Evening star., 1962-09-23

Lnen 70 3 renoezVouS with oeatn.
Judged Hitler Right
A generation ago, our national
views Of war and peace were con-
fident, responsible, fearless. We
loved peace but we loved justice
more, We had no illusions that
security could be won by appeas-
ing Hitler. We judged that ap-
peasement would only whet the
appetite Of Hitler for greater con-
quests, and we were right.
There has arisen since World
War II a school Of thought in
the United States which per-
suades itself that our policy in
Korea was admirable in that our
forbearance when we were win
ming was great service to peace.
Our forces were defeating the
Red Chinese armies and driving
them up the peninsula. When We
reached the approximate line Of
the 3Sth parallel in March, 1851,
we abandoned the initiative and
sought an srmistice.
We didn't get an armistice. In
stead Of responding with appre-
citation for our forbearance, the
Communist Chinese reorganized
their forces and seized the initia-
tive which we had surrendered.
They attacked our forces for two
years, inflicting heavy casualties
upon US. This was the period Of
our heaviest losses.
The Communists identified our
forbearance as weakness. Their
repeated attacks on our forces
and their arrogant attitude in
negotiations bore out their claim
that they had defeated the pa
per tiger" The prestige Of the
Communist Chinese regime at
home and abroad was enhanced.
Forbeoronce and Peace
The claim that our forbearance
avoided q third world war was
advanced at the time and has
been repeated since. 1t is q claim
which seems to have no histori-
cal basis. The United States pre-
ponderance Of power in its atom
ic weapons was so overwhelming
that full scale war could not be
tolerable for the Soviet Union. It's
aim was conquest by satellite war
and by subversion.
Our own thinking had been so
firmly oriented to the thesis that
any future war would promptly
escalate to atomic dimensions
that we misjudged the Soviet in
tentions and erroneously conclud-
ed that they were ready to risk
full-scale war.
The protracted fighting with
no sensible purpose and the atti-
tude at home Of business as usu-
al mark the Korean War as q
significant milestone In the de-
struction Of the morale Of our
people. War Is q heinous crime II
it is conducted without national
purpose.
We entered Korea with a strong
purpose Of defending an ally and
Furnishing the aggressor. and in
this we had purpose. After the
Chinese intervention our leader
ship faltered, listened to the
council Of allies who were court
ing Communist Chinese favor,
took counsel of our fears. We lost
purpose and the sacrifice Of our
sons lost significance.
The Korean experience should
have taught us the futility Of war
without q purpose Of victory. Yet,
we find today that the illusion
of peace through forbearance is
still cherished by some Of our
policy makers.
Where Do We Stop?
The forbearance theory argues
that one of two contending par
ties can, by accepting insult and
aggression without umbrage or
the use Of force, reduce tensions
and avoid oscillation of conflict.
To this theory, the pursuit Of VIC
tory intensifies conflict and the
danger Of war. We should have
power enough to discourage ma
jor adventures by hostile nations
but should be tolerant Of their
lesser gains.
The vital interests Of the Unit
ed States are underlined in any
specific sense because we don't
know where we shall stop; but
we are summoned to support all
causes which claim to serve peace.
Thus. the commitment Of our
military forces becomes not an
extension Of our national policy
in which the world knows that
we mean to win. but another re-
sponse to hostile initiative which
seems tolerable ct the m ON en-
but has no predictable outcome.
You do not find the Soviet SOL
der committed to tenuous politi-
cal adventures where the vital in
terests Of the nation are not at
stake. When he is committed to
battle, as in Hungary, his aim is
victory. He is not called to toll
crate guerilla warfare and to ac-
cept casualties in some theoretical
service to peace. Where he is COM
mitted to occupation or other
duty, the full power Of the Soviet
Union supports and protects him
even as he protects the Soviet in
terest. He has never been aban-
doned by q government fearful
Of victory.
The soldiers creed Is q simple
one. He is called to sacrifice his
life If necessary in the service OF
his country. He asks only that the
sacrifice be warranted by the ven-
ture to which he is committed, and
that the American people stand
with him when he Is committed
The Come CoIIed Peace
When you depart from these
fundamentals, you enter the pow
er struggle with soldiers as pawns
in a game called peace.
To khn vital ivNfarn~fa ~ ths