COMMENT IN EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26394, 12 April 1951, Page 7

COMMENT IN EUROPE

LONDON, April 11. Reuter's Paris correspondent says that Mr Truman’s decision to relieve Genera] MacArthur did not surprise French quarter?, but they had not expected it so soon. Socialist Deputies who had earlier drawn the Government’s attention to the situation in Korea greeted the news With relief. A Socialist spokesman said: ‘'What was at stake was not • man but collective security itself.” A former Prime Minister (Mr Paul Raynaud), who recently returned from touring the United States, said: “Mr Truman's decision solves an American problem end an inter-AHied issue.” The dismissal created an immediate stir in political quarters in London. A leading left-wing Labottr back-bencher, Mr Richard Crossman, who has been one of the most vocal critics of General MacArthur, said: “Mr Truman has the unexpected up his sleeve. Once again he has shown at the last moment that courage to act which is necessary to win, whether in domestic or foreign affairs. I think it fair to add that during the last week Mr Herbert Morrison made it very clear that the President had to choose between the maintenance of British and American partnership and the continued, toleration Of Genera] MacArthur’s insubordination.’' A Labour back-bencher (Mr lan Mikardo) said: “This is a great step forward in the cause of peace. As long as General MacArthur remained, we lived in constant danger of an extension of the Korean war and in a daily threat of world war.” Mr R. A. Butler, one of the leading members of Mr Churchill’? “shadow Cabinet,” gaid: "Let us hope that in the result tae United Nations policy will be proclaimed and adhered to as a united policy.”