Evening star., 1953-07-23
The Political Min '17E7w
Rhee or Eisenhower?
1t Is Time We Chose
Koreans U. S. Supporters
Perhaps Wont More War
By Gould Lincoln

AmericanS-Some of them in high
ofice-who have been patting Syngman
Rhee, President of the South Korean
government, on the back have now an
opportunity to weigh again the reliable
ity of Mr.. Rhee. They have again an
opportunity to decide-and to state
publicly-whether they are for Presi-
dent Rhee of South Korea or for Presi-
dent Eisenhower of the United States.
It's as simple as that. For Mr.. Rhee
has broken forth in new Spot-when
it appears that the armistice in Korea
is nearing completion. The first mon
key wrench he threw in the machinery
was the release of the prisoners of war
who had declared themselves anti-Com-
muniSt. 1t was nice piece of trickery.
calculated to upset the armistice nego-
tiations, which it did. And now, after
many conversations with Gen. Eisen-
hower'S personal representative, Assist
ant Secretary of State Walter Robert
son, the South Korean President has
handed the United Nations Command
statement that he will not abide by
truce unless the Chinese Reds agree to
withdraw from Korea, and the agree
ment is reached within 80 days after a
postwar political conference has been
begun.
Mr.. Robertson and the State Depart
ment believed that the matter of South
Korean compliance with the truce, if
and when it is made, had been straight
ened out with the aged President. Sec
retary of State Dulles and Mr.. Robert
son said as much. 1t looks now as
though Mr.. Rhee has different ideas,
no matter what he may have caused
Mr.. Robertson to believe.
Rhee's Goal.
President Rhee'S end desire is the
unif1cation of Korea under his govern
ment. In order to accomplish this end,
he is seeking to force the United States
and the other United Nations allies to
fight on. 1t is obvious he is opposed to
any kind of truce, unless he is guaran-
teed Korean unification on such terms
as he may dictate.
How much has the recalcitrance of
Mr.. Rhee been encouraged by the state
ments of Americans-some of them
high placed-who have called him a
great patriot and who have preferred
his policy to that of Gen. Eisenhower?
It's a nice question. Undoubtedly, Mr..
Rhee has been fully informed regarding
these statements. He might have been
informed of the overwhelming sentiment
among Americans in support Of Gen.
Eisenhower, who is seeking to accom-
plish through more peaceful means
what Mr.. Rhee insists shall be had
through more war.
Senate champions of Mr.. Rhee have
not only praised his obstinacy as pa
triotiSm but have profeSSed to find
warrant for it in the Interpretation of
United Nations policy on the question
Of Korean uniflcation. The fact is that
policy of unifying Korea by armed
force was specifically rejected by our
Government as early as the autumn of
1851. In addition, when the armed
forces of the United States and its allies
in the U. N. took up the battle in Korea.
the announced purpose was to repel
Communist aggression. There was no
declaration of intent to unity North and
South Korea.
EisenhOwer's Goal. ...
The Eisenhower policy-the policy
which stands first in the Presidents
mind and hearts international peace.
There Is no suggestion he favorS peace
at any price. None whatever. On the
contrary, he is doing his best to pre-
pare the United States for any war
that may arise. On the contrary, he
told Russia and it's Communist allies
that If they wish war they can have
it. He is intent. however, on bringing
stable peace through diplomatic chan
nels and peaceful means if that can be
had. In Korea, his contention is that
aggression has been halted. The time
has come for ending open warfare and
an endeavor to solve problems through
diplomacy. He is not proposing to
abandon Mr.. Rhee to the Communist
wolves. He has assured Mr.. Rhee there
will be no abandonment. That, how
ever, IS not sufficient for the South
Korean.
The supporters of Syngman Rhee in
this country, If they want an all-out
war with China to obtain the unifica-
ton of South Korea, have an oppor-
tunity to say so explicitly.