Evening star., 1953-07-23
Dr.. Rhee's Latest

In his sudden new statement of policy.
President Syngman Rhee of the Republic of
Korea has cast considerable doubt on the firm
ness Of the understanding recently worked out
between him and Assistant Secretary of State
Walter S. Robertson. AS a result, there is a
teeling-perhapS unwarranted-that he may be
preparing to reverse himself and take action
calculated to prevent an early truce agreement
at Panmunjom.
Thus, for one thing, DR.. Rhee has had this
so say: According to our understanding with
MIR. Robertson, we will not sign the truce, but
we promised not to obStruct it provided he could
confirm after his return to Washington the
understanding we reached with him. I do not
believe he has quite done so, and we are waiting
to hear from him." These are rather cryptic
words, and there may be less in them than
meets the eye, but they seem to suggest that
a peaceable ROK reaction to an armistice is
not yet genuinely assured.
Similarly, and even more graphically, Dr.
Rhee has said this: eve have done our part
to show our willingness to cooperate with the
United States, and we decided to postpone our
determination to get the Chinese Red troops
out of Korea before the signing of an armistice.
But this was a conditional agreement. If the
United Nations does not consider our desire
for survival, we cannot regard the understand
ing as binding upon u.s." The meaning here is
far from clear, but there is at least strong
hint of possible trouble in it,
Finally DR.. Rhee has declared that I'VE
shall be at liberty to follow our own course of
action" if the post-truce political conference
fails after 80 days to persuade the Chinese
Communists to withdraw from Korea. This is
an implicit threat that in such circumstances
ROK forces-six months after the actual sign
ing of an armistice-might resume hostilities
on their own. But that particular threat
which would be extremely difficult to carry
outs less disturbing than DR.. Rhee's other
statements bearing upon implementation of the
truce itself.
For these statements give at least the i'm
pression-right or wrong-that DR.. Rhee may
be thinking of backing away from the promises
he has made not merely to Mr. Robertson and
Secretary of State Dulles but also to President
Eisenhower, personally and in writing The
most important of these promises, as Mr.. Dulles
has emphasized, is his solemn assurance that
he and his ROK forces will mot obstruct in any
manner the implementation Of the armistice
terms"-an assurance given in exchange for
our commitments to undertake such things as
mutual security pact with him and the
launching Of costly program to rehabilitate
his devastated country.
It is possible, of course, that DR.. Rhees
latest comments do not justify alarmist inter-
pretations and that President Eisenhower has
good ground for declaring himself still hopeful
and reasonably confident that an armistice will
be signed soon. Even so, 1t seems Significant
that Secretary Dulles, while asserting that the
question of an armiStice is up to the Commu-
nists has deemed it advisable to issue special
statement which in effect calls upon the ROK
leader to honor and "abide by" the assurances
he has given. Otherwise the outlook at Pan
munjom is likely to grow very dark again.