Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-25
The KremIin's Peace Bid


Thomas attitude toward the Soviet proposal that
as "a first step" toward Korean peace settle
ment discussions should be started between the
belligerents for q cease-dre and an armistice
providing for the mutual withdrawal Of forces
from the S8th Parallel"
To begin with, there is at least some ground
for the suspicion that the proposal may prove to
be nothing but another piece of Red propaganda
designed to befuddle and divide the free world.
At any rate the fact needs to be kept in mind
that this bid for truce parley has been adj
vanced as kind of afterthought tackled on at
the end of the thoroughly mendacious speech
that Deputy Foreign Minister Jacob A. Malik
broadcast on Saturday under the auspices of the
United Nations. Certainly when read in relation
to the spirit and context of that speech, the bid
calls for something less than full-throated cheers
or dancing in the streets.
Thus, prior to making the truce proposal,
MIR. Malik gave voice to a long harangue restat-
ing the Kremlin's familiar upside-down version
Of reality-a version made up of monstrous libels
and colossal lies depicting the United States, in
alliance with France Britain and other "de-
pendent" countries, as a land whose ruling
circles" are guilty of such things as () agrees
sion In Korea, (2) seizure of Formosa from
China, CD moves that are converting the U. N
into tool Of American imperialism, (D efforts
to expand the war in Asia, (5) promotion of the
Atlantic Pact and mad ornaments race" in
preparation for an about attack on Russia, and
CD general conspiracy to seek domination OF
the world by unleashing new global conflict.
BY way of contrast, according to Mr.. Malik, the
Soviet Union threatens no one" and seeks only
to establish peace-a peace that would be real
ized Of course, II the free nations, letting
Moscow have its own way, would just be ac-
conimodating enough to stop taking defensive
measures against the danger Of having their
Threats cut.
Nevertheless, even though 1t has been pre-
sented at the tail-end of a speech made up
chiefly OF staggering perversion Of the truth,
Mr., Malik's Korean proposal has certain features
suggesting that 1t may amount to more than q
mere propaganda maneuver. The fanfare ac-
companying it, for one thing, indicates that the
kremlin attaches great deal of Importance to
it. Further taken by itself, it seems to differ
substantially from past Soviet statements on the
same subject for example, unlike tl?se state
ments, 1t does not condition truce talks On meas
ures to give Formosa to Red China and to admit
Peiping into o. N membership. Accordingly, it
may well represent bona fide move to bring the
hoSt1litieS to an end-a move rejecting deci-
sion on the part of the Chinese Communists and
their Moscow mentors that there Is nothing to
be gained from continued aggression in Korea
II that is the fact of the matter, If the bid is
genuine, then the Russians, as the State Depart
ment has declared, can readily confirm their
sincerity through the normal channels of diplo-
macy, where they will find the United States and
Hke-minded nations ready-as always-to agree
to cease-fire on terms designed to promote an
honorable and effective peace settlement
Our American position-which President
Truman probably will discuss in his address to-
day-favors truce in the neighborhood of the
38th Parallel and stage-by-stage process OF
withdrawing all foreign troops from Korea. But
such truce would have to be conditioned on
ironclad guarantees insuring against renewed
hostil1ties or acts Of aggression. In addition as
long-range matter, any settlement following
cease-fire would have to have as its, ultimate
objective the wiping-out of Korea's artificial
dividing line and the uniflcation OF the country,
under u N. supervision, as a genuinely indie
pendent land. II Peiping and Moscow are really
prepared to accept that kind of arrangement a
sound peace agreement will be possible
At the moment, however all this is a matter
OF speculation. Whether there Is to be peace or
not-and right now the enemy is fighting as
bitterly as ever-depends on Moscow and Pei
ping, and Peiping conceivably may not see eye
to eye with Moscow. The only thing we can be
sure OF is that the United States and the rest of
the free world, being anxious not TO expand the
war, are ready to work out just settlement As
for the Red totalitarians, we had better keep our
fingers crossed until their true intentions be-
come clearer.