Evening star., 1952-02-07
u. 5. Reported Ready
To Accept Red Plan on
Korea Political Farley
By the Assoc.ated Press

The United States is prepared
to agree to proposed Communist
recommendations" for a high
level conference to discuss a per-
political settlement in
Korea.
The meeting would not be held
until after a cease fire had
stopped all Korean fighting and
the recommendations had beer
acted on by the United Nations
The United States General AS
sembly is due to hold a specia.
session if and when a truce il
agreed on.
Red armiStict negotiatorS In
Korea yesterday placed the con-
ference proposal formally before
the U. N. negotiating team. It is
the last big issue to be raised, al
though some other matters, such
as exchange of prisoners of war
are still unsettled.
COunterproposal Indicated.
The proposal. was forwarded
here by Gen. Matthew B.. Ridg.
way, the U. N. commander. Amer.
ican officials said it would get i'm
mediate attention and indications
were that Gen. Ridgway shortly
will be instructed to submit Q
counterproposal. ,e&
The counterproposal would diff
fer from the Communist plan in
some respects, it was said, but not
on the main point of holding Q
political conference if the present
talks at Panmunjom succeed.
The problems of post-armistice
talks with the Reds on the future
of Korea have long been foreseen
and are understood to have been
discussed in principle by the
United States with Britain
France and other U. N. countries
fighting in Korea. ,Sa
No Objections to Talks.
It is understood these discus
sions have made clear that the
American government, as a men,
ber of the U. NJ, has no objections
to engaging in political talks or
Korea questions but would not
want to be bound to discuss broad
er issues such as Formosa and Red
China's bid for a U. N. seat. Il
the Reds try to force an agree
ment on discussion of such mat
ters there may be some difficulty
on the whole political conference
project as it shapes up at Pan
munjom.
Furthermore, informants said
the holding of a conference woule
not of itself mean there was any
real hope of agreeing with the
Reds on arrangements for perm
anently pacifying and unif9int
Korea.
In proposing the political meet.
ing, the Communists stated yes
terday that it should take UP three
issues. Withdrawal of foreign
troops from Korea; peaceful set
tlement of the Korean question
and settlement Of "other questions
related to peace in Korea"
Point Troublesome.
The first two points appear u
raise no difficulty from the Amer
ican point Of view.
The third point may prove
troublesome, it is believed here
because in defining it the Red
indicated that they wanted tt
talk about broad Far Eastern
questions including Formosa
which is the headquarters OF th'
Chinese Nationalist government
recognized by the United States
It seems likely the United State
viii make an effort to confine tn
proposed meeting to strlctl,
Korean matters.
Informants said they could Sc
nothing to be lost in moving to
ward a conference with the Red
through the United Nations AM
at least two things to be gained
Cd Removal of an obstacle 3
final agreement on a truce il
Korea, and (23 a demonstrate
on the part Of the Allied coun
tries that they are willing to max
any reasonable effort to seek
peaceful settlement.