Evening star., 1951-07-01
'erms
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not ignore Gen. Ridgway's offer
and that in recognizing it they
cannot reject it without riSking
collapse of their long time cam
'Ipalgn to persuade the world that
they favor peace.
Hence the belief is that the
Reds will either accept or re-
spond by asking more informa-
tion about Gen. Ridgway's offer.
But the qualifications they may
impose on an acceptance could
make it difficult to negotiate an
actual end to the fighting.
Indians Pessimistic.
Reports from New Delhi said
yesterday that the Indian gov
eminent, which has an Embassy
at the headquarters of the Chi
nese Communists at Peiping. was
pessimistic about the chances of
a successful cease-fire negotiation.
1t was understood here that In
dian leaders have been peSsimistic
on peace chances for a month
or more. They have felt that
Red China's leaders, having in
vested so heavily in the Korean
war. now find it increasingly diff
fcult to think of eXtricating
themselves short of total victory
The Ridgway offer has clearly
put them on the spot, however, if
the Indian analysis is correct.
Moreover, American propaganda
agencies were seeking to make full
use of the offer. The Voice of
America put it on the airways in
Is languages, with heaviest en-
Iphasis on broadcasts to Korea and
China.
Air of Calm Waiting.
In Washington there was for
the moment an air of calm wait
ing. State Department officials
IprofesSed as much skepticism as
ever over the sincerity of the
Communists. However, they said
this Government would wait pa
tiently for many days for the
Reds reaction.
One suspicion very much in evil
dence here is that the original
truce call, sounded by Russia a
week ago, might be a military
diplomatic trap-a means of get
ting U. N. forces pulled back south
of the 38th Parallel where the
Chinese Reds have not recently
been able to drive them.
This may be one reason why the
United States would like to nail
down truce positions roughly along
the present battle line. That runs
at an angle across the 38th Paral-
lei from the region north of Seoul
(and south of 38) in the west
coast area to the vicinity of Kan
song on the east coast.
Other Considerations.
| But more compelling reasons, as
Stunning that serious armistice talks
can be held, are:
First, the fact that the battle line
lis about half the length of the 38th
Parallel itself, due to the forma-
ton of the Korean west coast in
that region.
Second, that the terrain offers
better defensive positions than
does the area stretching alongside
the parallel.
The position of forces undoubt-
edly would be a major point of
discussion but it would not neces-
Isarily be the critical point. In view
of the Communist passion for Iron
Curtains, Bamboo Curtains and
other ways of shutting out the out
side world, officials here believe
that the Communists would be
most reluctant to accept a really
effective observation system. Yet
without it neither side would have
real faith in the armistice from
. day to day. Neither would know
, what kind of buildup of forces the
. other might be secretly conducting
in it's rear area.
Senators Disagree.
Meanwhile, leading Senators
disagreed on the meaning of the
Allies offer to discuss an armistice
lin Korea.
Senator Taft, Republican of
Ohio, said the move is biased on
} recognition of success of Chinese
Communist aggression"
J, But that seems to be the logi-
cal conclusion of the administra-
tion's policy" he told reporters.
:. He said he didn't approve of
the whole works" but that an
!; armistice would be the only way
, out"
| Senator George, Democrat
i. Georgia, said there was no justi-
:. f1cation for Senator Taft's view
that the move meant recognition
of Red success.
Senator Gillette, Democrat,
: Iowa, told newsmen the offer to
: negotiate an armistice was the
right thing to do. He said this
country cannot put itself in a po-
! sition where Russia can say it
, moved for peace but the United
7 States refused to listen.
!, In Winder, Ga, Senator Rus
lsell, Democrat. of Georgia. chair
man of the powerful Senate
/. Armed Forces Committee, said
he sis almost persuaded" that
I Russia is Offering a bona fide