Evening star., 1961-05-17

Llbo had reported earlier tha
Gen. Lee had ordered his me.
to remain neutral in the crisis
I'VE must bear in mind agai
and again." said Gen. Lee, "tha
under any political circum
stances our enemy remains tn
Communists and our primar
mission is to defend the father
land against this enemy"
Gen. Lees personal position
was described as a crucial fac
tor by an independent membe
of South Korea's upper hous
now visiting Tokyo.
Calling the 1St Field Army
commander a very able, ambi
tiouS man, Councillor Lyul
Woon-hong said in an inter
view that If Gen. Lee support
the junta it probably will sue
coed, but II he stays with tn,
Premier or remains neutral i
will fail"
The junta met for Is minute
with five members of Premie
Chang's cabinet, apparentl,
trying to force official resig
nations in an attempt to pu
a stamp Of legality on tn,
seizure of government au
thority.
1t first was reported that
sixth minister, Education Min
lister Yum Paik-jung, was pres
J ent at the meeting, but late
1t developed that he was no
there. His absence was not ex,
Iplained.
Others Still Hide
Premier Chang and the othe,
nine members Of his cabinet
were still in hiding and ignored
broadcast demands from thu
junta that they come out anc
confer. The five ministers who
met with the junta already
were under detention and wer,
put under house arrest wher
the meeting ended.
Meanwhile. the junta solidi
fled its control In Seoul ant
named q temporary cabinet O
"a generals, colonies and lieu
tenant colonies to run the gov
ernment.
The junta took command O.
the National and Seoul police
whose members clashed briefl,
with the rebel troops that
seized control of Seoul befor,
dawn Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Che
Houng-man. a former proves
marshal, was named to heac
the National Police and Col
Lee Kwang became Seoul Police
| director.
New police directors alsc
were named for the eight
provinces.
Troops Back in Suburbs
With Seoul quiet and the
junta in control of the police
most Of the estimated $500
troops that had entered the
capital Tuesday withdrew to
the suburbs. Machinegun posts
remained at several key inter-
sections and tanks were de-
ployed. on a hill overlooking
the city.
United States Gen. Carter
Magruder, the U. N. COM
mander in Korea, tried to mini
mize the effect of the coup with
a statement last night that it
appeared to have little public
support. No open opposition
was reported from outside
Seoul, however, and Gen,
Chang'S forces continued to
claim control Of the entire
country.
United States Charge DAT
faires Marshal Green reiterated
his opposition - as the chief
United States diplomatic repre-
sentative in the country - to
the overthrow Of the elected
government. He added: 1T will
be a matter the Koreans, of
course, will have to and will
decide"
United States officials in
Washington refused to COM
ment until the situation In
Korea clarified. State Depart
ment spokesman Lincoln White
said Mr.. Green and Gen. Ma
gruder were within their au-
thority in making their earlier
statements calling on the South
Korean Army to return Premier
Chang to power.
No Specific Approval
The Embassy confirmed that
Mr.. Green's statement had been
issued without specific approval
from Washington. Official
sources said it was in accord
ance with the long term United
States policy of upholding dem
ocratic processes in South Ko-
rea and had to be issued quickly
TO counter speculation that
America was backing the COUP
Seoul newspapers reported
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