Evening star., 1951-06-07
Leaning on a FroiI Reed

It is to be hoped that this Government will
be prepared to do more than appeal to the
World Court in the event II should appear that
Red China is to be seated in the Security Council
and the other u NJ organs. For an appeal to
that tribunal might well do more harm than
good
This matter came up Tuesday when Secre-
tary of State Acheson appeared before Senator
Russells committee. Mr. Acheson said the
United States will vote against seating Red China
in all ,46 U. N. organizations including the Sc
curity Council. which may be evidence of some
hardening of attitude on our part. He stressed,
and rightly So the Importance of striving to
keep a majority of the U. N. members in favor
of this position, since a majority vote certainly
will be controlling on the question in IS of the
organizations. And, as Mr. Acheson pointed out,
it would accomplish very little to keep the Chi
neSe Communists out of one organization-the
Security Council-if they should be seated In all
of the others.
The Secretary of State went on to say, how
ever, that II there should be prospect that
seven. Or more of the Security Council members
were ready to admit Red China to that agency,
he would favor an appeal to the World Court
for ruling as to whether our veto could be
exercised in such situation. It seems to The
Star that such naneuver would be of little
benefit, and might work to our disadvantage.
In the frst piace, as Mr.. Acheson pointed
out, World Court ruling that the veto could
be used in the Security Council would not serve
to keep the Chinese Communists from being
seated in the As other U. NJ organisations. In
the second place, our position before the World
Court would be weak The State Department,
adhering to the view of the General Assembly,
previously has taken the position that such a
question 10 not vetoable II we were to reverse
ourselves in the future and take the opposite
position, there would seem to be little reason to
expect favorable ruling from the court.
Finally, we should consider the position that we
would be in IL the appeal were taken and the
court should rule against us. We could hardly
ask the court for ruling and then, if it should
be adverse, say that we would not abide by It.
And unless the prospects for favorable ruling
would be much brighter than appears probable
at this time, the wisdom Of appealing to the
court would be dubious to say the least
This does not mean that our hands are tied.
At the moment majority Of the u. u. members
support our position and we should work to hold
that support. This will not be difficult while the
war In Korea continues. What will Our position
be, however, when that war snds7
Mr.. Acheson has put much stress on the
proposition that we viii never agree to let the
u. ~ That is well and good. But does 1t Imply
that our position will change when the shooting
ends? Some Of our associates in the t. N. will
want to seat the Chinese Communists when the
shooting stops II that Is not our attitude II our
objection to Seating the Chinese Communists Il
concerned with the true character of the Red
Chinese government, we should make that fact
clear. And we should also make 1t clear that
the condition OF our assent to the seating Of the
Chinese Communists is . genuine change in the
character Of the Psiping government, not merely
truce in Korea.
Mr.. Acheson has not done this And it may
well be that he does not share this view. The
Star believes, however, that the great majority
Of Americans share the belief expressed by SEN
ator Stennis Of Mississippi, namely that the
seating of Red China would mean the end of a
United Nations that this country could take part
in If this is correct we should be extremely
wary OF any appeal TO the Worid Court which
might result IN limiting our freedom II action.