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Show WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS , A State of National Emergency Is Proclaimed by President Truman; Russia Threatens Western Europe UNITED NATIONS: Political Stalemate Although there was much less tension in the capitals of the world, diplomats at the United Nations continued to work feverishly in an attempt to head off a world-wide conflict. No workable solution for stopping the Korean war had been found, however, and the organization organiza-tion seemed locked in a political stalemate. Russia declared that all foreign troops, including Chinese Communists Commu-nists "volunteers," should be withdrawn with-drawn from Korea, but voted against a cease-fire proposal which the United Nations political committee com-mittee approved by a vote of 51 to 5. Russia's delegates harked again and again to the argument that the cease-fire formula was aimed at "saving the skins" of western troops at providing a "breathing spell" during which Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces could "reform their ranks" in preparation for a new attack. The general assembly went ahead with its cease-fire plan by naming a three-man committee to seek the truce. Most observers believed they would not succeed. (EDITOR'S NOTE: When opinions are expressed In these columns, they are those of IVrstrrn Newspaper Union's news analysts and not neoessarlly of this newspaper.) SCV ?rKOTOrl 5 kP'iZ Japan PYONGYANG SH gVONSAN Sea CHINNAMPOV, , A X f'Y "N CHON inchonI-sIoul sJ)bk 1 rtr x4 southJI dKOREAlT 1 Chinese Communists In the mountains of central North Korea prepared for another big sweep down the middle of Korea (broken arrow). Meanwhile, 60,000 United Nations troops were evacuated from the Hamhung-Hungnam beachhead after withdrawing from I the Yaln river. Marines ACHESON: Ouster Demanded Secretary of State Dean Acheson flew to Brussels for a meeting with representatives of the Atlantic pact nations amid renewed pressure on the home front that he be fired from the state department. The latest move for his ouster was made by senate and house Republicans. There was no White House comment on the Republican resolution. Administration officials, however, reported President Truman was "absolutely determined" to stand by Acheson for the reason that he has served him exceptionally well. Some quarters reported the President Pres-ident considered the attack on Acheson to be an attack on the administration's foreign policy. Acheson was reported to have said he would not resign and that he was making the Brussels trip because he felt the European peoples peo-ples needed to be reassured that the United States is determined to help build up their defenses. Some political observers expressed express-ed the opinion that the Republican demand for Acheson's ouster was timed badly. It was pointed out that lack of unified political support sup-port for Acheson in congress might embarrass him in relations with Atlantic pact foreign ministers. RAIL TIE-UP: Walkout Called Off Under pressure from President Truman, the federal courts and their own union officials, more than 10,000 striking rail yard workers work-ers ended their crippling three-day three-day strike that caused one of the greatest freight stackups in the nation's history. The strike ended without any wage settlement, although representatives repre-sentatives of the railroads and four rail unions got together for joint bargaining talks at the White House. . The strike had caused mountainous mountain-ous stacks of Christmas packages to be bottled up in post offices and stranded in freight cars. War shipments ship-ments had been halted in transit. Some railroads had curtailed passenger pas-senger train schedules. The union had demanded a 40-hour 40-hour week at pay they received for 48 hours the same benefits which were awarded previously to one million nonoperating workers. A presidential fact-finding board recommended a 40-hour week, but at pay boost of only 18 cents. The union's demands amounted to 31 cents. Contest EMERGENCY: Near-War Footing With a series of proclamations and executive orders, President Truman put the nation on a near-war near-war footing. In a world-wide radio address the President proclaimed a national emergency and told the American people they must pay higher taxes, work longer hours, and give up many civilian goods to speed up the defense program. "Our home, our nation, all the things we believe in, are in great danger," the President said in his address. "The future of civilization depends de-pends on what we do on what we do now and in the months ahead." He announced the administration would impose some wage-price controls and bring 3,500,000 men under arms "as soon as possible." Then he outlined the buckling-down buckling-down program: 1. Compulsory price ceilings "at once" on some items essential to defense production and the cost of living. 2. Voluntary ceilings over rest of the economy of publishing "fair standards of prices and wages." 3. To provide the necessary materials ma-terials for defense production, a "cut back on many lines of civilian production" and expanded output of steel, copper, aluminum, electric elec-tric power, and agricultural commodities. com-modities. 4. Workers to labor more hours. 5. Still further taxes. 6. Federal spending for non-defense non-defense purposes slashed "to the minimum" in the fiscal 1952 budget. Within hours after the declaration declar-ation of a national emergency, the President created the Office of Defense Mobilization by executive order. The new office was given unprecedented power with full authority over civilian agencies already at work building United States war strength. Truman named Charles E. Wilson to head the agency. Wilson was president of General Electric. Also within hours after the President's Presi-dent's proclamation, the Economic Stabilization Agency froze -the price of new automobiles at the level of December 1, 1950. The action rolled back price increases averaging five per cent announced by Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, and Nash, on the 1951 models. The automobile industry protested the price roll-back and stopped the sale of some makes. Observers did not believe the protest would carry much weight in Washington. Most observers believed the President had set the stage for further drastic curbs. There is no doubt but that a speed-up in rearmament re-armament to suit the quickening tempo of the Kremlin time-table will cause economic injuries. Some people are going to lose jobs. Some business men are going to lose money. And all Americans are going go-ing to find life a lot tougher. Some observers believed it may be necessary to cut back civilian production as much as 30 to 50 per cent before war production can go into high gear. The first truckloads of U. S. 1st marine division are shown above as they rolled into -the area near Hamhung after their 12-day battle to free themselves from the death trap set by Chinese and North Korean Communists near the Changjin reservoir. EUROPE: Reds Threaten The Soviet Union did not say exactly ex-actly what it would do, but in notes to Great Britain and France warned that the rearmament of Germany would not be tolerated. The threat brought a new feeling of crisis to western Europe. The Kremlin sent notes to Britain and France which asserted: 1. Arming of Germans by Atlantic At-lantic allies would violate the Potsdam Pots-dam pact of 1945. 2. Western Germany's inclusion in the Atlantic pact setup would invalidate Russia's alliance treaties trea-ties with Britain and France. A number of observers were asking ask-ing if the Soviet warning wasn't the kind Red China made and later fulfilled as United Nations forces crossed the 38th parallel in Korea. Others, however, do not think the Communists are ready for all-out war. The note is having its effect on western Europe and may slow down the execution of defense plans. London described the Soviet note as a "patently tactical device" timed to coincide with the Brussels meeting. MARSHALL: Opposes Full Mobilization Defense Secretary Marshall Is reported opposed to full mobilization mobiliza-tion now because there is still "a hope" that World War III may be averted. Marshall's careful appraisal of the powder-keg world situation was 4.L? -,fr ..-?Wiitillini.r-ai n- given to a house appropriations subcommittee at a secret hearing. However, Marshall said he also believes that the United States must build up its armed forces to just-short-of-war footing as swiftly as possible because "a single word" from the Kremlin could start the holocaust at any time. The defense secretary did not say exactly how far he believed U. S. mobilization should go. But he said the present goal of 2,771,000 men under arms by next July 1 must be increased substantially. The Pillsbury baking contest was held at the Waldorf Astoria with housewives from throughout through-out the nation competing for thousands of dollars in prizes. Mrs. William E. Brebner of Des Moines, Iowa, (left) is showing show-ing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor a little thing she whipped up and called "The Thing," after the current whacky song. CHURCHILL: No Foolish Promises Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill warned the western powers against the argument "that we must never use the atomic bomb until and unless it is used against us first." "The argument is now put forward for-ward that we must never use the atomic bomb until and unless it is used against us first," Churchill said. "In other words, you must never fire until you are shot dead." |
