Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-13

Although his interview with Jim Lucas of
Scrpps-H Howard has raised some doubt as to
his true intentions, President Syngman Rhee of
the Republic Of Korea appears definitely to have
ended his intransigent opposition to truce
agreement At any rate, despite the fact that
the Communists at Panmunjom may be dis
posed to think otherwise, the statement he has
issued jointly with Walter s. Robertson-our
Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern
Afairs-strongly suggests that he has greatly
modified his past position and that an effective
near-future armistice should now be possible If
the enemy really wants one.
It seems significant, in any event, that Mr..
Robertson, after more than two weeks of talks
with South Koreas doughty and somewhat un-
practicable leader, has seen fit to declare that
the joint statement could not have been made
eff we had not had assurance that President
Syngman Rhee would collaborate in the armiS-
tice." The statement itself is couched in highly
generalized language, but Mr.. Robertson'S COM
ment on it indicates that it has been based on
an off-the-record exchange of promises and
pledges firm enough, and unequivocal enough,
to insure that DR.. Rhee'S cooperation will be
forthcoming and that his valiant ROK forces
will conduct themselves in a way that will not
imperil truce when and If one is signed.
With that said however, it must be added
that the Rhee-Robertson statement falls far
short of being model of lucidity or definitive-
ness. It speaks of the deep friendship existing
between the Republic of Korea and the United
States" and it observes that our two countries,
during the recent negotiations, "have gone far
toward achieving mutual understanding" and
Large areas of agreement" regarding many
issues, including mutual defense pactr-which
is now. being worked out-and "the realization
within the shortest practical time of our COM
mon objective, namely, a free, independent and
unified Korea" and secure and lasting peace
in the Far East" This is good and high
sounding, but it leaves number of questions
unanswered, and the Communists are likely to
capitalize on that.
The most important of these questions has
to do with DR.. Rhee's attitude toward the pro-
jected post-truce political conference. Hereto
fore he has insisted that the United States
should commit itself, with his government, to
resume the war-automatically and Immediately
If that conference fails within 80 days to
make any progress toward Korea's unifcation.
Our Senate would almost certainly refuse to
ratify such a commitment, but the Rhee
Robertson statement and the Jim Lucas inter-
view make one wonder whether the South
Korean leader Is fully aware of that fact and
whether the Communists at Panmunjom will
not demand fuller guarantees than are now
available to insure that ROK forces will honor
an armistice not just for 80 days but for much
longer if necessary.
However, despite doubts of this sort, 1t
seems hardly possible that the Rhee- Robertson
statement would have been issued If there were
not very good reason to believe, on the part OF
our own Government, that the ROKs will abide
by truce. Although DR.. Rhee is unpredictable,
it may be assumed that he will live up to his
word if he has given it to Mr.. Robertson. The
Communists may have their suspicious, but if
they are genuinely seeking peace in Korea, they
will take things at face value and sign truce
without further ado.