The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-25
THE WORLD
TODAY
BY JAMES MARROW

/
its third birthday today, the
Korean War has become one of
the most frustrating chapters In
the history of mankind.
South Korea's President Syng-
man Rhee, whose troops couldn't
last long against the Chinese if
his United Nations allies pulled out
and left him alone, is attempting
to dictate to them the terms On
which they can have a truce.
| He's gambling, of course, that
they won't leave him, But what
may be overlooked is that Rhee
made it clear long ago he'd get
his way or else. No one, perhaps
because he seemed so helpless by
himself, seemed to take him ser
iously.
There is no doubt South Korea
would have been wiped out by the
North Korean Communists, and
that Rhee would have lost his re-
public and maybe his life, if the
U. N. had not stepped in to bail
him out.
But from the moment they. began
to turn the tide for him back in
1850, he began TO state the terms
on which he would permit a truce
| He has repeated them, in one form
or another, ever since.
So, no matter what they say
about his lack of gratitude, he can
at least claim he has been con-
SiStent and that if MS performance
now appears as a surprise it must
be only because no one listened to
him.
By mid-August, 1850, the Amer
F., leans had saved South Korea from
humiliation, and Rhee began tell
ing the Allies the kind of peace he
would insist upon.
At that time, when former Pres
ident Truman was assuring Rhee
the North Korean invaders would
be expelled from South Korea,
Rhee replied: I'VE shall complete
unification of North and South
Korea for all time"
Sept. % of that year Rhee an
nounced his government would ac-
cept only the unconditional sur
render of the invaders. On Oct. IA
Rhee rejected a U. N. decision
that his South Korean government
could not rule temporarily in North
Korea until a Korean national
election was held.
That was when the Allies we're
chasing the North Koreans back
over the 3Sth Parallel, which sep
arates North and South Korea.
Later that fall the Chinese came
into the war and beat the Allies
back below the 38th.
BY the summer of 1851 the Allies
and Communists began their truce
talks. which were 10 continue for
another two years before there was
even sight Of truce.
But the irrepresSible Rhee was
attempting to take full charge of
the terms on which the Allies
could settle.
There isn't room here for all he
said. He was beginning TO think
he was getting under Truman's
skin bat was quoted as saying that
even though Truman didn't like
| him he'd say what he pleased.
| On Sept. 20, 1851, Rhee said the
| U. N. should not resume the cease
fire conferences except on these
conditions:
! ~ The Chinese Reds should
withdraw from Korea: (2) the
| North Koreans should be dis
armed; (3) North Koreans should
be granted full and equal repreSeD-
tati0n in the Southern National
| Assembly through u. N.-observed
elections; and a. the L N. should
set a time limit fer Communist
acceptance of these terms and
break off the cease-fire talks per-
manently if the Reds didn't meet
| the deadline.
| The terms he laid down yester.
| day, almost two years later, while
not identical on all points. had
some Similarities. Yesterday he
| said be would not agree even to .
truce, much less a peace settle
ment. unless;
| 90 He got mutual security pact
with the United States q demand
| he had expressed beforeB: ca
| there we're plans for simultaneous
| withdrawal Of T. y. and Chinese
| Red forces from Korea. 81 the
! var would be resumed If there is
| no political settlement within 90
! days.
| But the Z. y. friends a soltb
| Korea can't force the Chinese out
unless tI) the Chinese agree t2t
the Allies ara willing u open q
/ great offensive 20 force them osii
Nor can the Allies force toe Ca
( nese into any osher agreements
! except by victory after a great
offensive
/ There may he surprise that Ehee
has made hash ci a Kogeaa tr7sea
bat no surprise Gbst BE Iong sca
Indicated he would unless he SCI
] his wsy.