Evening star., 1960-04-20
KOREA

- Continued From First Page
election of Mr.. Rhee's own vice
presidential choice.
Election Call UnmentiOned
Mr.. Rhee did not mention,
either. the call of Vice Presi-
dent John Chang, a member of
the opposition Democrats, for
new. elections to restore public
calm. He did emphasize that
until the necessity for martial
law no longer exists" it would
not be time to fix blame for the
nprisings.
An uneasy calm settled over
the capital while Mr.. Rhee's
cabinet met on this most grave
crisis since Kerea became a
republic IL years ago.
3, Tanks and heavily armed
troops guarded government
buildings and major intersec-
tions. Police continued opera
tions against scattered bands
of demonstrators on the out
skirts. and scattered gunfire
could be heard during the
night. Shortly after dawn,
police shot and killed three
members of an armed group
disobeying the curfew.
Correct Procedure Enjoined
Gen. Song said police were
ordered to invoke mo repriSalS
and that those who are not
suspected of major crimes con-
nected with the demonstra-
tions are being released I'M
mediately."
THE Army will conduct it
Helf with absolute correctness, "
the general said, but added
There will be no weakness in
the event of further defiance
OF the law or of military order"
Without celebrating, Gen
Song said: The Communists
Of the North already have in
Eolved themselves in these anti
governmental activities, and
they must be given no further
opportunity to disrupt the free
dom and democracy of the
South" The reference may
have been to Communist North
Korea's radio propaganda con-
cerning the demonstrations.
Mr.. Rhee himself did not
mention Communists in his
statement. He previously hac
blamed them for the South
Korean crisis. Some observers
say he now may be aware-be-
latedly-of widespread unrest
among his own people.
New anti-government DEM
onstrationS were reported ir
Taegu, KWangju, Congju, Su-
won, Iri and 1nchon, but ne
casualties were reported. Botf
Taegu and Kwangju are under
martial law.
The demonstrators drew sur
prise support yesterday from
Mr.. Herter, who charged thai
Mr.. Rhee's government hac
adopted "repressive measure.
unsuited to a free democracy. ,
He called on the government tt
protect democratic rights. Many
Koreans interpreted the state.
ment as a call for new elections
United States Secretary OF
State Christian A. Herter, who
charged that Mr.. Rhee's gov
ernment had adopted "repreS-
Sive measures unsuited to a free
democracy" He called on the
government to protect demo.
cratic rights. Many Koreans
interpreted the statement aS
a call for new elections.
Mr.. Rhee's statement ap.
peared a move toward meeting
the complaints, but its full
meaning remained to be de.
termined. The statement wa,
read to newsmen by a Spokes.
man, and the President him.
self did not appear.
Asks Law and Order
The statement called on tht
South Korean people to "dis
play their patriotism and fol
low the instruction of RESPONSE
BILE authorities"
The first task is full restora
ton of law and order-so tina
necessity for martial law al
longer exists" Mr.. Rhee de
clared.
Mr.. Rhee's cabinet me
throughout the day, DISCUSSING
the situation and Mr.. Herter'j
cenSure. Tanks and armed
combat troops guarded thu
cabinet building and othe,
major public buildings il
Seoul. but so far the troop
left to the police active opera
tions against holdout demon
strators.
Buildings still smoked from
hres set by yesterdays ram
paging mob. The Seoul rioter
burned several dow towl
buildings, including two pro
government newspapers ant
the headquarters for the tougl
Anu-Communist Youth Corps
Along with the police. tn
Youth Corps was accused O
strongarming the opposition il
last months election. Its of
fees in Kwangju and Pusal
also were attacked and dam
aged.
Leaders of Mr.. Rhee's Liberia
Party, the opposition Demo
Gratis and Independents ten
tatively decided to 1econven
the National Assembly Frida
to discuss the crisis. TIL
Democrats had urged an i'm
mediate session of the As
sembly, which was in reces
until next Monday, but tn
Liberals insisted on a coolin
of period.