Evening star., 1951-05-08
Mr.. Truman Hits Back

Mr.. Truman Hits Back
The President in his address to the Civil
Defense Conference, has met head-on the Mac
Arthur challenge to his policies in the conduct
of the Korean war. There was no attempt to
SideStep or to dodge the issues. Mr.. Truman has
taken his stand, and there is no possibility of
retreat from it.
Two main points were made by the President
First, he said-without mentioning names-that
General MacArthur's proposals for stepup in
the scale of the Korean war had been rejected
on military grounds. ,- ~,
In his judgment the President said an
expansion OF the fighting in Korea would not
bring that conflict to speedy conclusion; would
not save the lives of American troops II be-
lieve," he added, that we have better chance
of stopping the aggression in Korea, at smaller
cost in the lives of our troops and those of our
Allies by following our present course" This
judgment, Mr.. Truman insisted is supported by
'the best military advice have been able to
obtain-the best collective military advice in
this country"
The second point was that the United States
might well have to so it alone If it should widen
the Korean conflict. General Macarthur had
urged intensihcation of the war against Red
China even if we should have to fight alone)
point is of course that intensiication of the
war-bombing of Manchurian bases, naval
blockade, etc.-would lead to full-scale war with
China and might bring the Soviet Union into
the conflict
Here is simply difference of opinion. No
one knows what would happen If General Mac
Arthurs advice should be taken 1t might bring
the quick victory he anticipates and prove a
fatal blow to communism In Asia Or 1t might
bring on world war which otherwise perhaps
would not occur. In the latter event, Mr.. Tru-
mans position Is right, for, unless war with
Russia is inevitable in any event, our casualties
would be enormously and needlessly increased
by precipitating such conflict.
Everything depends apparently, on the
course of events in Korea If the war there can
be settled soon on a satisfactory basis, the
President will be fully vindicated. II not If it
drags on endlessly at heavy cost in American
lives General Macarthur will emerge as the
unhonored prophet. and, furthermore the fight
ing quite probably will expand into the total
war which Mr. Truman hopes to avoid.
The Presidents second point is somewhat
more vulnerable to attack.
II one has helpful Allies, 1t is desirable, Of
course, to retain them. And in event Of war
with Russia, our Allies, if they would stand with
In the Korean war however they have been
something less than indispensable The Pres
ident derided those "cynics who scorn the United
Nations, who are Indifferent to the need for
cooperation among the free peoples"
Cooperation among Allies. however Is not
one-way street. And on this point General
Marshall gave some revealing testimony to
the Senate committee investigating this contro-
versy. Last December we wanted to invoke the
doctrine of "hot pursuit" in Korea-that is to
permit our fighters to pursue enemy planes for
limited distance across the Yalu River. This
was advocated by General Macarthur, by the
Joint Chiefs of Staff by General Marshall, by
the Secretary Of State and by the President. It
was urgently recommended to the U. N Security
Council, but was unanimously rejected by that
agency. Again, General Marshall testified to the
concern with which he and the Joint Chiefs
viewed the volume Of materials being shipped
into China through the British-controlled port
OF Hong Kong. Then came this exchange:
Chairman Russell-Have representations been
made seeking to tighten the economic blockade?
General Marshall-They have been, sir
Chairman Russell-Have they met with any
success?
General Marshall-Not complete success
Our own Government is engaged in a complete
economic blockade, but we have not been able to
bring that about with the other nations except
to limited extent
The President must realize that this situa-
ton, coupled with the failure Of our Allies to
make larger contributions to the actual fighting
in Korea, explains why good many Americans
look with f1shy eve on the usefulness OF the
United Nations in the Korean war.