Evening star., 1951-11-29
Tokyo Tells Penfagon
No 'Cease-Fire' Order
WAS Issued in Korea
By John A. Giles

/ OfnclatS OF the state ana De-
lfense Departments, nitially as
much in the dark as the public
about the partial, cease-fire in
Korea, received word from Gen.
Matthew B. Ridgway today only
that reports of a cease fire"
order are without foundation.
The Pentagon had asked Gen.
Ridgway yesterday for "clarifica-
ton" of the stop-shooting situa-
ton.
A Defense Department spokes-
man said there was little else in
the Ridgway message except the
statement that "the press has
been SO informed" and a quota
ton of the announcement from
Tokyo headquarters last night
that mo such order had been is
sued"
The spokesman was asked If
Gen. Ridgeway had mentioned
the statement today by Gen.
James A. Van Fleet, 9th Army
commander in Korea, that a di-
trective he issued had been mis-
interpreted" by the troops. The
spokesman said Gen. Ridgway's
brief reply made no reference to
that
| At the Pentagon earlier, the alb
sence of any knowledge or even
guidance for reporters was some
what reminiscent of the Army'sI
handling of the recent Korean
Iatrocity reports.
In fact, in the atrocity situa-I
tion, the Defense Department.
called on Gen. Ridgway for "clar-
'ification" just as it did yesterday.
Points to public Record"
Earlier, Acting Secretary of
Defense William C. Foster had
been too busy" to see newsmen
about the cease-fire but sent out
word by Clayton Fritchey, depart
ment information chief. that the
cease-f1re negotiations were a
matter of public record"
| But later Mr.. Fritchey issued
this statement:
I'VE have no official informa-
i ton about reports from Seoul.
There is nothing in the tentative
demarcation line agreement which
calls for a ceaSe-fire.
eve have asked Gen. Ridgway
for Qualification of the Seoul re-
ports. We have not yet received
his answer"
The departments statement
was made after Presidential Secre-
tary Joseph Short said at Key
West. Fla, there can be no
icease-fire in Korea until an
armistice has been signed"
Had Been Adamant.
The confusion was highlighted
by the fact that only about 10
days ago Gen. Ridgway's United
Nations command had been ada
mant on the point that the fight
ing would have to continue until a
full truce could become effective.
Nevertheless, the hull in infan-
try fighting made sense as being
the immediate result of the truce
negotiators' tentative agreement
two days ago on a fixed boundary
line between the two armies.
1t was only a tentative agree
Iment on a single issue, in that If
there is later agreement on all
other issues in the negotiations,
this line will constitute the exact
boundary.
! For that reason, 1t was apparent
to both field armies that there is
no point in further infantry COM
bat for the purpose of gaining
TERRITORY. For if, as widely hoped
lat home, a full agreement on all
points is reached next month. any
territorial gains affected between
now and that date will have to be
surrendered anyway.
Gen. Hull at Key West.
Mr.. Shorts statement came as
Gen. John E. Hull, vice chief Of
staff of the Army. arrived at Key
West. Presumably he was there
to explain the atrocity picture,
which President Truman is re-
ported to have been investigating.
Secretary of Defense Lovett is in
Rome for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization meetings. So
are Gen. Bradley. chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secre-
Itary of the Army Frank Pace.
| Gen. j. Lawton Collins, Army
chief of staff, is touring con-
ltinental bases.
There are other tourist"