Evening star., 1951-04-27
Text of Macarthur Speech

CHICAGO, April 27.-Follot0-
ing is q Stenogrophic report of
the tert OF Gen. MacArthur'S
address at Soldiers Field last
night:
cannot find the words ade-
quately to express my sense of
gratitude for the cordiality of
your welcome. The memory of it
will long live in my heart and
prove a source of added strength
to help me meet my responsible
ties of citizenship in the great
issues which now stir mankind.
(Applause.)
have been encouraged in many
ways by the events which have
followed my return from long alb
sence abroad. Foremost of the
encouraging signs has been the
demonstration that the American
people are keenly alive to their
own responsibilities and do ln-
|hesitatingly voice their views on
the direction Of the policy OF gov
|ernment. (Applause.)
It is for future events to as
certain whether they still retain
the ultimate authority over gov
ernment as intended by the Con-
stitution or whether such authori-
Ity has been lost in the drift from
/ the pattern ordained by the archi-
tects of our political institutions.
(Applause)
Writing Proud Record.
I have only recently left many
of your sons on the battle line in
Korea, and / can report to you
they are splendid in every way.
(Applause.) Despite the sinhibi-
tions under which they fight, they
are writing proud record of valor
lin indomitable determination un-
surpassed in our military annals.
(Applause.).
I have believed a realistic policy
should fill the long existing vac
uum left in the wake of Red
China's commitment to war
against us, a policy designed to
effect the early restoration of
lpeace through victory, with con-
Isequent saving of countless Amer
lican lives. (Applause).
1t is difficult to ask men to fight
and die unless we give them a
realistic mission and the means to
accomplish it. (Applause.)
What is our policy in Korea?
Views Are Varied.
Some will tell you that the paci-
Ification and unif1cation of all
Korea is the objective. an objec-
tive which indeed still stands as
the formal mandate of the United
Nations. Others tend to overlook
such a formally stated policy. and
will tell you that our objective is
achieved upon clearing South
Korea of invading forces. Still
others ignore both explanations
and frankly say that our objective
now is to continue to engage the
enemy forces in Korea in a pro-
longed and indecisive campaign
Iof attrition, Notwithstanding the
constantly increasing cost in
American blood. (Applause.)
None of these will tell you in
the traditionally ringing tones of
the American patriot that our
objective is victory over the Nation
and men who without provocation
|or justification have warred
against us. (Applause.) And that
our forces will be furnished all the
lsinews and other means essential
to achieve that victory with a
minimum of cost in human life.
The tragedy is that since the ad-
vent of the war with Red China
there has been no definition of
the political policy which would
provide solution for the new
problem thereby created.
Policy Vacuum.
| This has resulted in a policy
vacuum heretofore unknown to
war. (Applause.) However great
the effort to distract attention
from the main issues by introduc-
ing into public discussion extra
neous and irrelevant matters, the
Fundamental question still re-
mains the same: What is the
policy for Korea?" (Applause.)
Our losses there in ratio to the
men committed have already
reached staggering proportions
These losses are progressively
mounting by thousands each
month. It is this steady increase
that arouses In the mothers and
fathers of Americas sons such
Understandable anguish and un-
certainty.
Nor is it difficult for those ma
tions, with but token forces ir
ratio to our own. calmly to adj
vocate no deviation from this
course. 1t is in this situation o1
complete unrealisfn that while
lmeticulously implementing the di.
lrectives given me, I have strongly
urged the need for positive pol
icy attuned to the military reah-
ties and designed to stop through
strength this slaughter of Amer.
Iica's sons. (Applause.)
i Enemy Bullets Impartial.
I have endeavored since my re-
turn home to keep the issue on 9
higher level than partisan politics
i (Applause.) The lives of your sons
call for this measure of considera-