ALL EYES TURN TO KOREA

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1948, Page 6

ALL EYES TURN TO KOREA

. Received Tuesdav, 7.15 p.m, KEW. YOKK, Eeb. 16. The Little Assembly, which takes up the Korean problem on February 19, skould order an ixnmediate eleetion iu Korea under TJnited Nations' observation to couixteract the formation of the ' ' Democratic ■ People 's Republic ' 3 in the northern Soviet-oecupied zone. Thxs was urged tOuight by' a spokesman for the .Korean people 's representative at the Assemblv, Miss Louise Yim. She declared that the TJnited Nations Conxmission that visited Korea had opened the way for the Soviet niove by hesitating about the eleetion whieb the General Assembly last autumn ordered to be held by March 31, 1948. Miss Yim added that if such an eleetion were held inunediately, it would give the United .Nations sponsored Republic oi Korea- internationalf recognition and as a result •tlie position of the Soviet puppet regime in the eyes of the world, would be impossible. The chainnan of the TJnited Nations Korean Commission, Mr. K. P. S. Menon .(India), sa'id on arrival at Kew York today that he was astonished by news of the establishment of a People 's Republic. He added that if the republic were formed, it would erystalise the existing division of Korea which the Commission . wishes to avoid. "The Korean* art anxious to maintain unitv because for centuries they have been a united nation," he said. "The new move will be a serious blow to the effort; we are all making for Korea 's natiorial independenee. " Mr. Menon said the Commission 's report would be pro sented to TJnitdd' Nations on February 19. The -Kew York Times's Seoul correspondent reports that American reaction to 'the" ajinounceixient of the formation of a Democratic People 's Republic in

North Korea, was bitter and blunt. A highly-placed American spokesman said today: f'We have operated here strietly within the framework of international ~ agreements. We have violated none either in spirit or lettez-, but while we were so doing, the Soviet went ahead and established a government in violation of the Moscow decision as weli as in deliance of United Nations— lirst . secretly, now openly. The creation of a formidable arniy in North korea is a distinct violation of all agreements, It was not accomplished i'nta nxatter of rnonths. " Declaring that TJnited States had a'ttempted to arriv.e at a solution of the Korean problem Tirst- in cooperation with the. Soviet and'after the failure of that effort, in cooperation with and supported by United Nations, tlie spokes--man said: "We have. been frustrated at every turn. ' ' He added that 'American authorilies eonsidered the Soviet was prepared to make its xnoves before United Nations toolc action and whatever was the outcome of coming debates in the Little' Assembly, the Soviet, was determined to f ollow its own course. A North Korean propaganda broadcast last night denounced the American commander in South. Korea, LieufenantGeneral Iiodge, for "bending his efforts to gain tlxe honour of being registered on the roll of warmongers". The eommentator added: "Under orders of the American imperialists who are incurring the lierce'opposition and curses of all the world 's peace-loving people, T.ieut. -General Hodge has beexi pursuing a colonial policy with th* view of con verting South Korea into a major'military base for aggression against Asia." iThe commentatof claimed that Lieut.General Hqdge had given untrue

reasons for the barring of the United Nations Commission from North . Korea. "The Commission was refused entrv because we 'know too well! that it has come to Korea with the object of- eonverting it .into an American eolony, " he claimed.