The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1951-04-26
Senator Tales N. Ecfon Says Removal
Of Gen. Macarthur Most Unfair
10 American Boys Fighting in Korea

U. S. Senator Zales N. Ecton
OF Montana recently made
known his views on the recent
action of President Truman in
relieving Gen. Douglas MaeAr-
thur from all his commands in
the Far East.
Ecton expressed his views as
follows:
The removal of General Mac
Arthur is most unfair to the
American boys who are now
fighting in Korea. 1t can only
result in increasing the dangers
to them, undermining their
spirit and jeopardizing the flu
ture of Japan. -
Last June General MacAr-
thur was ordered by President
Truman, without the consent of
Congress, to lead our forces in
an undeclared war in Korea.
He obeyed, although he had
neither sufficient forces, nor
adequate equipment for the
job. He finally succeeded, how
ever, in driving the invaders
back almost to the M~anchurian
border where Red China, with
an overwhelming number of
troop and huge supply bases,
Joined the communist invaders.
American losses were heavy.
He requested permission to
destroy the aggressor's supply
depotS and bases along the
border of Manchuria, in order
to destroy the enemy's ability
to make war.
Macarthur wanted to accept
Nationalist China's offer of
$4,000 trained and equipped
troops-five days after the war
began-to relieve some of the
pressure on our American troops
in Korea, Or to let Chang Kai
Shek's army of half a million
men begin a diverting action
from Formosa. He also asked
permission to stop the shipping
of rubber, tin and other stra-
tegic supplies to Red China by
other members of the United
Nations. Some of the shipments
originated in America.
These appeals were all made
through proper channels; and
were all refused by, the Tru-
m a MA c h eson administration.
Macarthur obeyed orders but
tried to reason with Command
er-in-Chief Truman. Like all
good generals he wanted to win
the war quickly as possible,
achieve peace in Asia and save
American lives.
t. Knowing that communists
| respect only strength and force,
Macarthur saw no sense in in
| definitely sacrificing his men
i while the United Nations bick-
cred and some of its members
continued to send supplies to
the communists. But his hands
were tied by the White House
| political policies. He was order
ed to just continue fighting as
long as there were Red Chinese
or Korean aggressors to kill,
but he was not permitted to
make the necessary moves to
win and stop the war.
Macarthur at least had a
plan. Truman and Acheson
| have none; or if they have
they have never taken Congress
or the people into their conf
dence. The presidents flimsy
excuse that he fired MacAr-
thur in order to avoid Russia's
entry into the war is too alb
surd to warrant consideration.
When Stain is ready to make
a move his lie factory is always
capable of providing the excuse.
Finland, Poland and a half doz-
en- other countries can testify
to that.
AS in the case of Admiral
| DENLY, Commander Crommel-
( elm and others who have given
most of their lives in valient
service to America and were as
sured they could speak freely
to Congress, dismissal from
command was the political pen
atty for their courageous effort
to serve America best. Today it
is Macarthur; tomorrow it may
be another.
What will be the price of the
next appeasement of commun-
ism? Possibly the turning over
of Formosa to Red China. As
baltimore said, 1--WE can let
Korea and China fall, but
bshould not let it appear that
we gave them a push"
MacArthur's dismissal was a
tragic blunder-another sordid
and Wilful move in the Tru-
man-Acheson game of interna-
Itional power politics which has