Show I Learning to Deal With Communists I Whether or not we finally reach any Korean settlement as a result of the prolonged negotiations with the Communists Communists Com Corn monists at and we will have gained something something knowledge knowledge of Communist mentality maneuverings and methods An interesting article in a recent I issue of U. U S. S News and World Report tells the story of the lessons our AmerI American Amer Amer- I ican icon negotiators have learned in thelong the thelong long months of facing the Reds across negotiating tables in Korea According to the magazine the article was written by its own staff members on the basis of conclusions reached by the military officers who have been participating in inthe inthe inthe the negotiations Some of the conclusions are Communists believe the United States is afraid of major war and therefore can be bluffed But the negotiators believe that if the Reds are convinced the West Vest will really fight then there will be no fight Communists care not a whit for threats or bribes or compromises They seem to respect only power power not not just latent power either but power in Hin being and in place You must deal with Communists like a calm mature teacher dealing with a clever juvenile delinquent You have to be reasonable and have the means to enforce your reasonable stand The answer is the Teddy Roosevelt idea of speak softly but carry a big stick You cant can't make concessions in the hope of gaining concessions If you give the Communists an inch they'll take a mile Communists are past masters at the big lie at the tactic of confusion camouflage camouflage camouflage camou camou- flage and at making their opponents angry so as to get them off guard You must repeat and repeat your position so there can be no Communist misunderstanding and no loophole And you ou must be patient Time means nothing to the Communists They will haggle on and on until they are convinced convinced convinced con con- vinced the opponents wont won't weaken Obviously negotiating with the Communists Communists Communists Com Com- isn't easy But the negotiators who have faced the Reds for long weeks in Korea think it is possible to deal with them provided we understand Communist Communist Communist Com Com- techniques and attitudes A combination of power willingness to use it firmness yet reasonableness imperturbability imperturbability imperturbability imper imper- in the face of provocation and patience seems to be the answer Probably the most difficult part of that formula for us is that matter of patience It isn't easy for Americans to tobe tobe tobe be patient We Ve want to get things settled without beating around the bush interminably It is our nature to bo boand bc- bc and perhaps too much so so-in so in a hurry Orientals have always found it hard to understand our impatience impatience and and the fact that we are dealing with orientals as well as Communists in Korea makes the matter of our traditional impatience doubly a problem Add to that the fact that Communist doctrine preaches that time is on their side that side that inevitably capitalism must collapse collapse and and it is e easy sy to see why patience is so essential Patience isn't an easy lesson for us to learn None of the lessons on negotiating with Communists is easy But if we can learn in Korea how to deal with these elusive sons of Marx and Lenin we will indeed have gained much For whether we like it or not we seem doomed to deal with them in one fashion or another for some time to come |