U.S. Protection Of Korea To Continue

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 15

U.S. Protection Of Korea To Continue

(Rec. 10 p.m.) SEOUL, June 20. President Eisenhower solemnly pledged today that the United Slates and its Allies would never permit the Communists north of the 38th parallel to invade the South Korean Republic again.

He addressed the Korean National Assembly today just before he went north to visit the troops holding the 38th parallel against possible Communist attacks. It was five days before the tenth anniversary of the Communist invasion, “On behalf of the Government and people of the United States, I solemnly reaffirm the pledge of full American support to the Republic of Korea in accordance with our commitments under the mutual defence treaty.” he said

Mr Eisenhower arrived at Seoul yesterday and was so enthusiastically received by two million South Koreans that bis car was damaged by the mass of people pressing forward to see him. He was forced to detour through a back alley to get to the United States Embassy. He said today that South Korea could be confident that its friends and Allies would "permit no intrusion upon the borders of free Korea.” Mr Eisenhower’s speech was the last major public address of his abbreviated Far East tour, cut short because of demonstrators who forced the Japanese Government to cancel its invitation for him to visit Tokyo. Mr Eisenhower described South Korea as a one-time “battlefield for survival over aggression,” and said it is “now a proving ground for responsible, representative self-government" In a reference to the students revolution which toppled the autocratic regime of the former President Dr. Syngman Rhee, he said: “Events over the last few

months in the Republic of Korea have demonstrated how aware its citizens are of the rights and obligations of a free people.”

He told the Assembly that South Korean legislators had a “heavy responsibility to show that given freedom and advancement the people's welfare thrives even in the shadow of Communist aggression.” •>';

They couM not expect free government to endure without basic institutions such as a free press, the responsible expression of popular will, a public education system, and an Assembly truly representative of the Korean people. After going to the front lines to review the South Korean troops, President Eisenhower will take off from Seoul at 8 p.m. for a 12-hour flight to Honolulu and a golfing rest. In Honolulu, the State Governor, Mr William Quinn, declared Monday a State holiday and urged residents to turn out in great numbers to welcome President Eisenhower home There has been no announcement yet about how long Mr Eisenhower will stay in Hawaii, but officials expect him to remain at least a few days for a rest and to play golf. Even in Hawaii, security precautions are not released. Secret service, police and military officers have spent the last week studying security measures on the 22-mile motorcade route the President will take. With the route passing through winding and mountainous roads, the authorities have been especially concerned about possible sniper hideouts in the hills. Loitering along the highway has been banned.