Evening star., 1951-05-03
The Political Mil
Gen. Wedemeyer Proved
Self Far East Prophet
Report Secreted 3lz Years
Brought to Light by Hearings
By Gould Lincoln


One of the first lateral results of the
Senate hearings on Gen. Macarthur and
the Far Eastern policy of the Truman
administration was the publication,
three and half years after it was SUBJ
mitted to the President. Of the Wede-
meyer report on Korea. This report,
made by 1t. Gen. A. c. Wedemeyer,
q. S. A., not only establishes Gen. Wede-
meyer as diagnostician of both mill
tary and political situations, but as a
prophet OF what has happened in the
Far East.
From Gen. Wedemeyer's report, the
Truman administration was put on no.
tice that Soviet Russia intended to take
the whole of Korea behind the Commu-
mist Iron Curtain. and that it would do
SO as conveniently soon after the with
drawal OF American troops from the
Korean area as appeared most advan-
tageous-by means of Russian trained
Communist armies of North Korea. Gen.
Wedemeyer said that "a Soviet domi-
mated Korea would constitute a serious
political and psychological threat to
Manchuria, North China, the Ryukyus
States strategic interests in the Far
East" Gen. Wedemeyer argued for mill
tary support of South Korea to prevent
this happening.
Will Bring Out the Facts.
1t is not quite clear why this report
has been held secret for three and half
years-unless it was due to the fact that
the administration did not intend to
follow its recommendations. Critics Of
the administration have been immediate
In their charges that had Gen. Wede-
meyers recommendation been followed
the present Korean war might have
been avoided.
The hearing Of Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur, Secretary Of Defense Marshall,
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and others
probably including representatives Of
the State Department-by the Senate
Committees on Foreign Relations and
Armed Services should let a lot of light
into places which have been deliberately
obscured. and develop the reasons for
that obscurity. AS it appears today, these
hearings are to bring out the facts and
let the chips fall as they may. Chairman
Russell of the Armed Services Commit
tee. who is acting as chairman of the
joint hearings, has no intention Of
whitewashing any one. His only reser-
vation on disclosures is that they shall
not jeopardize our fighting forces in
the Korean area or the security of the
United States.
Clear Understanding Needed.
What is vitally needed in this country,
If the people are to be united. is a clear
understanding not only of the facts
regarding the Far East policy, but where
it is aiming. In addition. the people are
begging to know what the top military
advisers of the Government believe
should be the course in the Korean
fghting-whether to follow Gen. Mac
Arthur'S recommendations for stepped
up offensive against the Chinese Reds
to gain victory or to follow the Presi-
dents plan for defensive war in Korea
and hope for cessation of hoStilitieS
when the Reds have had bellyful of
fighting. Gen. Macarthur has insisted
it was his understanding that military
leaders, including the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. agreed with the military sound
ness of his proposals. Administration
sources have denied this, and the Chiefs
of Staff have still to state what they
really do think.
There is solid body of opinion in this
country that the President did a great
disservice to the American people when
he dismissed Gen. Macarthur from his
Far East commands, particularly his
position of Supreme Allied Commander
in Japan. Efforts have been made in
administration and Democratic National
Committee circles to discredit both Gen.
Macarthur and his advice Presumably
these efforts will come to head in these
Senate committee hearings.
Gen. Macarthur has attempted to
keep the issue on high plane of what
is best for the United States and the
safety of the people. However, President
Truman and his Secretary of State Ache
son have been under fire for months,
because of the failure of the foreign
policy in the Far East, and because of the
Korean war casualties The political bat
tie which has developed Is intense, and
II a great American hero-MacArthur-
has to be sacrificed to save the adminis-
tration's political bacon-the sacrifice
apparently is going TO be made.