TRUMAN-MACARTHUR TALKS; SPECULATION

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 October 1950, Page 5

TRUMAN-MACARTHUR TALKS; SPECULATION

Touchy Koreans; Desire For U.S. To Get Out Quickly NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (Rec. 10.10 pm )—President Truman and General MacArthur discussed Formosa and Indo-China during their talks on Wake Island, but in general rather than specific terms, informed sources said today. Communist China was treated similarly in General MacArthur’s outline of military problems, which did not include any political discussion of the Peking regime. MacArthur emphasised that victory In Korea would be lost if—through reduced Allied power—the Communists Mt er were able to conquer more valuable nations, such as Indo-China. General MacArthur and Mr. Tru man agreed that the military win could be clouded by a mis-step in handling the touchy Kore/ns. It was on this basis thev agreed on the withdrawal of American troops as soon as possible, leaving security to the South Korean army.

Specific questions concerning the Philippines centred around economic strengthening of the islands and the threat pose**! by the Communist-con-trolled Hukbalahap movement. The sources said that United States naval and air forces would be maintained at ccnsiderably greater strength in the Far East than before the Korean hostilities began. The future deployment of American infantry divisions brought from the United States was not disclosed. However, informants said some of them might be kept in the Far East. There was no suggestion that President Truman had any thought of taking General MacArthur to task for o'atements with which he sometimes ’■as disagreed publicly. The amicable tone of the conference was underlined by General MacArthur’s good humour when he returned to Toklo.—Associated Press.