Evening star., 1951-04-06
How End 1t?

In asserting that "this is psychological
moment for renewed effort to negotiate an
end to the war in Korea, British Foreign Secre-
tary Herbert Morrison has in sense restated
General MacArthur's recent offer to meet with
the enemy in the field to discuss the possibility
of cease-f1re That offer, although loosely and
excessively criticized in many quarters still adds
up to a humanitarian and militarily realistic
proposal to stop the fighting and dying and seek
by diplomatic means to work out an honorable
peace settlement
However, with significant applause from
Pravda in Moscow the Chinese Communists
have not only scornfully rejected the Macarthur
truce bid but have declared that they are deter
mined to fight on "relentlessy" until the United
Nations is completely driven" from Korea. Ap-
parenty, despite the fact that they have suffered
fearsome casualties and seem incapable of win
ming decision without all-out Soviet aid they
are prepared to keep on absorbing terrific pun
ishment for period of indefinite duration Ac-
cordingly such being the circumstances, It looks
as though Mr.. Morrison-whose statement has
been coolly received in U. N circles-has spoken
wishfully in describing this as a psychological
moment" to try negotiating with them
Mr.. Morrison's view seems all the more wish
full because of what General Macarthur has just
reported from Korea-namely, that the Chinese
Communists, together with their North Korean
comrades, have been massing against the u N.
"a potential strength of SO divisions the greatest
of any period" since the start of the war. This
concentration, involving upwards of 100000
troops, strongly indicates that the enemy is pre-
pairing to launch a new offensive that may be set
in motion within matter of days, or even hours
OF course because our allied ground forces have
superior hrepower and because the Red supply
lines are extremely vulnerable to our air and sea
bombardments the chances are good that such a
drive-when and if it comes-will be smashed
Yet, wholly apart from Speaker Rayburn's grim
suggestion that the Russians may be planning
to take part in it, the mere fact that great
battle appears to be in the making should be
enough to sober anybody who tends to be op-
timistic about the possibility of near-future
peace negotiations.
Actually, even if they suffer grievous addi-
tional losses in another major battle, the Chinese
Communists may still reject any and all truce
proposals For both they and their Kremlin
mentors, if they cannot drive the u. N. forces
from Korea, may be firmly committed to the idea
of remaining in the fight in order to attain at
least the minimum objective of stalemate-the
Theoretical military stalemate" which, according
to General Macarthur, is bound to be reached
eventually (D if the enemy keeps on pouring
troops and materiel into the theater of action.
(2) If there are no major additions to our allied
strength, or (3)-the most important condition
of all-if the Macarthur command continues to
labor under the severe handicap of the u Ms
self imposed ban against attacking the enemys
bases in the privileged sanctuary of Man.
churia
AS long as these three .ifs" govern the situa-
ton, the Communists probably will choose to
fight for a stalemate rather than negotiate for
an honorable peace How then is the war to be