Evening star., 1951-06-03

I
already printed, in a pamphlet
called Background Information
on Korea, Report of the Commit
Itee on Foreign Affairs pursuant to
House Resolution 206, 81st Con-
gress, Second Session, House Re-
Iport No. 2495." -.
There is one part that I
should like to draw particularly to
your attention. and that is the
very striking complete resemblance
between the situation here and the
situation in the Boxer Rebellion in
China in 1900.
The difference here. of course,
is that this is on a larger scale
than the Boxer enterprise, but in
going over this. ! was struck by
the statement of Secretary of
State, at that time, Mr.. John Hay
You will recall that the Presi-
dent, during the Boxer Rebellion.
sent 5000 troops to join with Brit
ish, Russian, German, French and
Japanese troops to relieve the siege
of the foreign quarters in Peking,
and re-establish the treaty status
to which we were entitled.
This was done without express
congressional authority. -.
Now in many respects that Is
quite similar to the purposes by
which President Truman acted in
June Of 1850, which was to pre-
serve the guarantees of collective
security. which were set up in the
United Nations Charter and which
are really the basis OF the security
of the United States.
The legal reasons, the powers
of the President as Commander
| in Chief, the powers under the
Constitution and foreign policies
are all reviewed at some length in
this memorandum, and I shall not
go into them and take your time
now. ....
The facts were that action had
to be taken with the utmost speed
and action was taken, beginning
on a Sunday and going through
until the latter part of that
week.
It seemed to me that he was
acting wisely and properly, and
did not get the feeling that there
was any different view in the Con-
gress.
| But certainly I do not believe
the President would have gone to
Congress for the purpose of ask
| ing for a declaration of war
against anybody. because this was
an action of the United Nations
to repel an aggression and was
not a question of war between
the United States and some other
country.
| Allies Wouldn't Quit.
| Senator Johnson-Have any Of
our Allies told you that they would
be disposed to withdraw their
troops from Korea IL Gen. Mac
Arthur's recommendations were
iput in effect?
| Mr.. Acheson-No, sir.
| Senator Johnson-Do you be-
lieve they would?
Secretary Acheson-I do not
think that anybody would pull
out and quit. I think we all might
be in such-well, I would rather
not discuss the military results
of this. I think it might be very
serious for all Of US.
Senator johnson - Have the
commanders of our Allies fighting
in Korea ever recommended, so
far as you know, to the United
Nations that Gen. Macarthur s
program be put into effect?
Mr.. Acheson-I don't think they
have made any recommendations
at all to the United Nations. All
their recommendations would go
through the U. N. commander.
| Senator Smith How would
you visualize the prevention Of the
same thing happening over again
that happened when the North
Koreans attacked the South
Koreans. if we stop somewhere in
the neighborhood of where we are
again?
Secretary Acheson-You would
have to make the best arrange
ments that could be made, and I
think that if, as a result of this
fighting in Korea, it was deter
mined that the Chinese could not
succeed in this, then the desire
to start this up again probably
wouldn't recur.
If 1t did, Of course the most
serious consequences would ensue
for everybody including China.
Therefore, if you once get the
conviction on the part of the
Chinese that they cannot. they
just haven't got the strength to
do what they want from the mill
tary point of view, I think that
you have a real possibility Of
working out a stable situation.
Would Deal With China Reds.
Senator Smith - Whom would
we deal with in working out a
cease-fire with the Chinese Com
munists?
Mr.. Acheson-We would have to
deal with the Chinese Communist
authorities.
Senator SMITH suppose that
would be difficult problem where
we are recognizing the National
lists as the Government Of China
You deal with the Chinese Com
munists as sort of rump govern
nlent that is making all this trou-
BILE as distinguished from the Ma
Itionalists that we recognize. That
is a difficult question. I don't
know the answer to it.
! Mr.. Acheson-Well. you would
deal with them as the authority
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