RUSSIAN ARMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 7

RUSSIAN ARMS

Supplied To North Koreans POSITIVE PROOF NZP A—Copyright NEW YORK, Sept. 18. General MacArthur reported to the Security Council today that positive proof had been obtained that during 1949 and 1950 the Soviet Union supplied the North Korean forces with munitions. He also said the Chinese Communists supplied trained manpower to the North Koreans, although there was no confirmation of direct or overt Chinese Communist par-tici* ation in the Korean war. General MacArthur said that immediately after the Japanese surrender in Korea in September, 1945, the Soviet began to organise a North Korean military force under the guise of a national constabulary. The force, now known as the North Korean People’s Army, had, from its inception, been trained, supervised, and logistically supported by the Soviet Union. The Russians acknowledged the supply of munitions and equipment to North Korea before their occupation forces withdrew in December, 1948, but in spite of their claims that there had been no resupply from Soviet sources since then a wide variety of definitely identified Soviet equipment captured from the North Koreans in battle bore the manufacturing date of 1949 or 1950. Equipment Listed . “Physical proof of such delivc-.es now includes 10 specific items," said General MacArthur, who listed seven .62mm sub-machine guns, an aircraft radio receiver, two types of hand grenades, and various kinds of ammunition. He added that 41 other pieces of equipment, including armoured vehicles and artillery, also had been definitely established to be of Soviet manufacture. North Korea might be manufacturing some material, but, he said, its industry was incapable of providing heavy equipment such as armour, tanks, and artillery. Assistance from Chinese Reds General MacArthur said the Chinese Communists had furnished substantial if not decisive military assistance by releasing a vast pool of combatseasoned troops of Korean ethnic origin which provided means for the expansion of the North Korean Army. This had been fully confirmed by the interrogation of numerous war prisoners. A substantial percentage of all prisoners had received training in Manchuria or had done active service with the Chinese Communists and had been returned to North Korea in the last year. . Soviet Protest The Soviet Union delegate, Mr Jacob Malik, vigorously protested against the inclusion of General MacArthur’s report on the Security Council’s agenda on the ground that there had not been time to study it. He said that if the majority decided to discuss the report he would not participate in the discussion and would vote against taking a note of it. The Council, after a procedural debate lasting nearly two hours, decided by 10 votes to hear General MacArthur’s report. The Soviet’s was the only adverse vote. Malik Walks Oat

Mr Malik walked out of the Council after the United States delegate, Mr Warren Austin, produced an alleged recent-type Russian machine gun captured in Korea. Mr Malik told reporters that he walked out because a French translation of General MacArthur’s report was being made and he could not understand French. He branded the report as a libel against the Soviet Union.