Evening star., 1953-03-15
Mr.. Eden's Thesis on Korea

Anthony Eden's farewell speech in the
United States, delivered in New York on the
eve of his return to England from the British
American political economic conferences which
were held in Washington, contained one chill
ing but debatable note of Illustration.
After paying tribute to the courage and
idealism" being displayed in Korea under lead
ership of the United States, the British Foreign
Secretary drew contrast between fighting for
ones homeland and fighting for an interna-
tional faith. 1t is one thing, he said, for a
nation to throw its strength into war of sur
vival, but another to fight partial war under
all kinds of restraint.
And yet we know" he added, "that these
restraints must be maintained"
Unfortunately, Mr. Eden did not say, or
even attempt to say, why these restraints must
be maintained. It is known to all, of course,
that the danger of broadening the Korean con-
fict into world war is potential that has
restraining effect, and that it cannot be ignored
in future plans about Korea. How real that
danger is, however, is a matter of opinion and
there is a responsible body of opinion in our
own military circles, at least that the United
Nations forces could carry the Korean conflict
to decision without bringing on Russian in
tervention. There have been expressions of
American military opinion, and there have been
indications that 1t was shared by some of Brit
aims military leadership in Korea also, that
the United Nations forces have the capacity
to end that conflict successfully and that there
may be less danger in such course than in an
interminable Stalemate.
If Mr.. Eden is thinking of political and
economic reasons why this deadlock should
continue, there are also political and economic
reasons why 1t should be ended. The prestige
of the West has hardly been helped in Asia, or
elsewhere, by the spectacle of the United
Nations armies, particularly those of the United
States, being held to an inconclusive draw by
the Communist Chinese and North Koreans.
And the cost in economic terms has been high,
both in direct expenditures and in the inhibi-
tionS which have been imposed upon normal
commercial relationships in the Far East.
Mr.. Eden acknowledged the impatience in
American public opinion at this drawn-out
stalemate, but one suspects he underestimates
the depth of that impatience It was ex-
pressed most articulately last November when
the American voters turned to General Eisen-
hover as their choice for President, and it is
idle to deny that one of their great reasons for
wanting the change in administrations was the
belief that new leadership would find way
to end this inconclusive war in Korea. This
belief has not been dissipated, nor has any
spokesman of our Government ventured to say
that the past policies of restraint in Korea
must be maintained indefinitely
The Eisenhower administration has sounded
keynote of positive action in its approach to
foreign policy. Mr.. Eden, in this particular
reference, was sounding one Of negative action
Unfortunately, our European allies have tended
to interpret positive action as being synony-
nous with reckless adventure. It Is not neces-
sarily so, nor is 1t necessarily 80 that the re-
straintS In Korea must be maintained"