BRITISH SUPPORT FOR ACTION

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

BRITISH SUPPORT FOR ACTION

“Aims In Korea Unchanged” (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, April 11. The British Foreign Secretary (Mr Herbert Morrison) and the Conservative Leader (Mr Churchill) both signified in the House of Commons to-day their support for the dismissal of General MacArthur. Picking his words warily, Mr Morrison said that the way in which General MacArthur had carried out his instructions was now a closed episode. Britain had always stood for the subordination of the military to the political, and it was clear that the Americans sawthings the same way. Mr Churchill agreed that constitutional and civil authorities should control the action of military commanders. He also praised General MacArthur as a soldier, and his direction of affairs in Japan’. Government supporters cheered Mr Morrison when he announced to the House that General MacArthur had been relieved of his command. Mr Morrison said that British aims in Korea were unchanged in the light of the general situation. “We stand for resistance to aggression, a free, independent and unified Korea and no extension of the conflict.” The Foreign Secretary added that Britain was ready a few months ago to negotiate a cease fire, and was ready to-day, “but it takes two to agree on a cease fire and so far the other side has Shown no desire to ston hostilities.”.

Dealing with the machinery for consu’tation between the United Nations and the commander in the field, Mr Morrison said: “The views of the British Government have been made known to the United States Government whenever the need arose. Sometimes our views prevail, sometimes they do not.”

Mr Morrison said that the United Nations had instructed General MacArthur of its political aims in Korea. These were resistance to aggression and the establishment of a free Korea. “He was told that th-’se aims did not necessarily require the conquest of North Korea by force, and that operations should not be undertaken which extended the conflict beyond Korean territory."

The Foreign Secretary said that the question of the 38th parallel could not be treated anart from othe- ma'ters concerning Korea. He a-Y’d: “These instructions represented British policy and that of the othc countries with forces in Korea. I da not desire to say more than to draw attention to the traditional British interpretation of the relationship between a military commander in the field and the Government to which he is responsible, and under the American Constitution and practice the same interoretation is placed on this relationship." General MacArthur’s record was not to be judged solely by some of his recent public utteranc s “He was a great servant of the .Allies during the war in the Pacific, rnd he has proved himself a brilliant This is not the time to look back, but to look forward, and I express the British Government’s confidence in LieutenantGeneral Ridgway, the new United Nations commander in Korea." The Foreign Secretary told the House that consultations wore at present taking place between the Governments as to the possibility of making a statement of United Nations’ aims in Korea in the light of the general situation. He hoped that these "onsultations would be concluded shortly.

“Simplifies Effort to End War” Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent says that the British view of General MacArthur’s dismissal is that it will have repercussions far beyond the immediate issues in Korea. “The dismissal comes at a time when the whole future of the Fcr East is in the melting pot and the question of a Japanese peace settlement is reaching this stave of concrete discussion. The removal of th" dominating personalitv of General MacArthur from the Tokyo scene leaves a vacuum. Its filling will involve the inter-play of new forces and new policies. “The United States draft of the Japanese peace treaty has been circulated. Britain’s counter draft, based on lone consultations with the Commonwealth, w’ll soon be ready. The stage wi'l then be set for an active attempt to define Japan’s role in the Far Eastern s*rug~le between Communism and anti-Communism.”

The correspondent says that General MrcArthur’s dismissal definitely simplifies the effort to end the war throu”\ a fresh United Nations approach ’to the Chinese Government. There has been a clear-cut conflict hAtw'mn General MacArthur’s view on the scone of the Far East war and the declared British policy.