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U.S. SUSPICIOUS OF
SOVIET PROPOSAL
FOR KOREA CEASE-FIRE
WASHINGTON, June 26 (A.A.P.). - The
Secretary of State (Mr. D. Acheson) said to-day
that the United States was trying to clarify the Sov-
iet suggestion of a cease-fire along the 38th parallel
in Korea. Mr. Acheson agreed with a questioner
that the Soviet proposal could he camouflage de-
signed to divert attention from the events in Persia
and other areas.
Mr. Acheson told another questioner that he
would consider the permanent withdrawal of the
Communist foroes behind the 38th parallel as a suc-
cessful end of the Korean war. He said the United
States military aim in Korea was to repel aggression.
"If this aggression is stopped, and with guarantees
that it will not be resumed, then you will have re-
pelled the aggression and restored peace and secu-
rity. The United States then would seek the unifica-
tion of North and South Korea, but it is not United
States policy to unify Korea by armed force," he
said.
"DRAW BACK FROM PRECIPICE"
Mr. Acheson said that.peace
in Korea would not lessen the
-need for military and écon-
omie aid for the free world,
but it would enable the world
"to draw . back from what
may be very close to the edge
' of a precipice.**
Mr. Acheson said he thought
it would be a mistake to regard
the Soviet proposal as any shift
in Soviet policy or purpose. He
said the proposal might not rep-
resent that at all. "We are try-
ing to find - out from the Soviet
i Government what it means," he
said.
MUST BE PREPARED
Mr. Acheson added, in reply
to a question, that even if a set-
tlement was reached in Korea
the United States and its allies
must always remain prepared for
I other aggression or for internal
! subversion. He said the vital
question in any negotiations fer
a settlement would be assurances
that the Chinese and North Kor-
ean Communists wouid respect
the Geneva Convention regard-
ing Allied war prisoners in their
hands. Mr. Acheson said the
United States Government had
always taken the view that the
.peoples of Foanosa, w ould-not be
used as a bargaining point for
a Korea settlement.
TOKIO. June 26 (AJLP.-Reu
ter's.).-The President of South
Korea (Dr. Syngman Rhee), in
Pusan to-day, said: "Since when
have the Russian leaders been
so anxious for world peace when
they attack South Korea in an
attempt to add it to their do-
main? Was the slaughter of our
people and the wrecking of our
country an effort to ensure world
peace? -The only peace moves
South Korea will recognise will
be the withdrawal of Chinese
troops north of the Yalu River."
Dr. Rhee said his Government
wanted a just and lasting peace,
"but the longing for peace must
not trap us into something which
will run out to be illusory. All
Koreans will view with dismay
any proposal to establish the
artificial lines which have split
the country for five years."
A settlement would have to in-
clude some assurance that Com-
munist aggression would not be
resumed later against the people
of Korea, who must be consult-
ed and kept informed in any
negotiations.
The South Korean Foreign Min-
ister (Pyun Yong-tse) said it
was useless to negotiate with the
Communists about the South
Korean prisoners because they
were too barbarous and uncivil is-1
ed. The only way was to rescue !
them by military power.
MOSCOW. OPINION
Renter's correspondent in Mos-
cow says that all the Moscow
newspapers to-day reported
President Truman's speech ' ex-
pressing the United States views.
"Truman said nothing new about
the situation in Korea, but was
obliged to subscribe to M. Malik's I
proposals," was the verdict. j
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