U.N. DIPLOMATS’ REACTION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 7

U.N. DIPLOMATS’ REACTION

“Obvious Relief” At Decision

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 11. Surprised United Nations diplomats generally greeted with obvious relief Mr Truman’s order dismissing General MacArthur as the United Nations Commander in Korea, says the Associated Press correspondent at Lake Success. They would not talk for publication, but their comments privately, and the positions they have taken in weeks of argument over General MacArthur show that Mr Truman did exactly what they hoped he would. The British, the French, and the Russians were known to be satisfied with the verdict, but for different reasons.

The British and the French started after General MacArthur’s scalp, says the correspondent, as far back as last November, when he made his dash to the Manchurian border, and there met the Chinese Communists. These delegates expressed the fear that General MacArthur might commit some action which would involve them in war with China and the Soviet Union without consulting them beforehand.

The Russians have repeatedly attacked General MacArthur and all his policies, both as the Occupation Co r mander of Japan and as Supreme Commander of the United Nations in Korea.

Mr Nasrollah Entezam, president of the General Assembly, called a meeting to-day of the United Nations Good Offices Committee to see what it can do towards peace in Korea as the result of General MacArthur’s removal. Mr Entezam was said to feel that General MacArthur’s dismissal created a new situation which must be explored. Comment in most European countries welcomes General MacArthur’s dismissal.

The vice-president of the French - arliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (Mr Marc Scherer) said: “Mr Truman's decision increases the chances of a peaceful settlement in Korea. General MacArthur acted too often as an American general and not as a United Nations representative.”

The Paris evening newspaper, “France Soir,” stated that General MacArthur’s freedom of action was threatening world peace. The Italian Foreign Minister (Count Sforza) said: “Only one policy is possible in the Far East—that of the United Nations. Mr Truman’s decision guarantees this. Therefore, it is an excellent thing.”

The Netherlands Government fully supports Mr Truman’s action, it was officially stated in The Hague to-oay.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Dutch Government has recently become more and more concerned about General MacArthur's public statements. It thinks that Mr Truman’s action in replacing him is a wise one.”

There was no official comment in Denmark, but the Copenhagen newspaper, “Aftenbladet," said: "Europeans will receive the news of General MacArthur's dismissal with dry eyes.” The Belgian Prime Minister (Mr Joseph Pholien) said: “It is undeniable that General MacArthur took upon himself too much authority, but it is also undeniable that the General is extremely popular in the United States.”

Many observers in Moscow regarded the dismissal of General MacArthur as possibly opening a new approach for a solution of the Korean conflict. In Soviet diplomatic circles the general reaction was one of satisfaction. It was felt that General MacArthur had been the major stumbling block to finding a peaceful settlement of the war, or at ledst preventing its spread to China.