Evening star., 1951-04-12
The Political Mil
Truman Still Undecided
On Route Set BY British
He Has Token the First Step
By Firing Macarthur
By Gould Lincoln

President Truman has still to decide
wnether ne will go the route with the
British and appease the Chinese Reds
which the latest reports from Britain
clearly indicate is the aim Of the socialist
labor government there. Mr.. Truman
has taken the first step, seemingly, with
the dismissal Of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur from his commands In the Far
East. The British government now wants
the return OF Formosa to Red China,
and the inclusion of the Chinese Com
.munists In discussions of the peace
treaty with Japan. Further, an ultimate
desire of the British is admission of the
Chinese Communist government into the
United Nations. So far, it is reported,
Mr.. Truman is unwilling to go along.
And Mr.. Truman can be exceedingly
tough if he believes the interests and
security Of the United States are in
jeopardy.
The kernel Of the problem is the war
in Korea and what's to be done about
it. The President has relieved from duty
the commander who wished to carry
an all-out fight to the Chinese Reds
Macarthur. The comment is general
that the President had no alternative,
because Gen. Macarthur persisted in
making political and policy statements.
The alternative which he did have,
however, was the adoption of Mac
Arthur's proposals to increase the pres
sure on the Chinese Reds. This he did
not choose to do. The Presidents pur-
pose has been to conf1ne the war to
Korea and to prevent, If possible, third
world war;
Effect on Chinese Reds.
Tied in with this is the impression
which MacArthur's dismissal will have
and has had-on the Chinese Reds.
They have been told in effect that there
is no intention on the part of the United
Nations armed forces either to bomb
their concentrations and airf1eldS in
Manchuria or turn loose the Chinese Ma
tionalistS In Formosa against them.
From their point of view. the only peace
in Korea will come on terms salts
factory to Red China.
The impact on the American public,
if cease-fire arrangement is made with
the Chinese Communists which gives
the Chinese what they want. is likely to
be terrific. The fathers and mothers OF
the men who have fought and died or
been wounded in Korea will demand the
purpose of entering the Korean war at
all, if in the end the result Is to leave
the Communists in control in the Far
East and with their aims, as far as For
mosa and entry into the United Nations.
accomplished facts.
Further, the United Nations, which
months ago declared Red China an "ag-
gressor," will be in sorry position, so
sorry that it viii come to be regarded
as just another noble experiment"
Public Still in the Dark.
The American public still remains in
the dark as far as the ultimate purpose
Of the Truman administration regard
ing the war in Korea. It is United
Nations war-although the brunt of it
is borne by the United States. and it
was launched largely because of the de-
mand of the Truman administration.
The situation is tremendously compli-
Gated, therefore, for the President. He
still must take into consideration the
attitude of the British, the French and
the other members of the u. N.
Politically, the dismissal of Gen. Mac
Arthur may have wide effect in the
United States. Republican leaders in
the House and Senate, particularly Mi
nority Leader Martin of the House and
Senators Taft of Ohio and Wherry of
Nebraska. Senate minority leaders, have
already seized on the Presidents actions
as an issue, even suggesting that inn
peachment proceedings may be insti-
tuted-although they have refrained SO
far from saying against whom such
proceedings may be requested. Reso-
lutions have been offered in the Senate
and House requesting joint session Of
Congress to hear Gen. Macarthur dis
cuss the foreign and military policy Of
this country and the situation in the
Far East ..,
The belief is expressed that the Demo-
Gratis will not resist these resolutions
to the point Of defeating them. Indeed,
to refuse Gen. Macarthur an opportu-
nifty to be heard by Congress might play
into the hands of the Republicans.
Questions and Answers