Copy of Letter from General Douglas MacArthur to Congressman Joseph Martin and Remarks of Representative Martin, with Related Material

4 and ARCKWEE AND RECORDS LETTER FROM GEN. MACARTHUR TO REP. MARTIN, AND REMARKS OF SERVICE* REP. MARTIN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 5, 1951. Mr. MARTIN of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, the Speaker, for whom I have an affectionate regard and whose judgment I value, told us yesterday that because of the current massing of Communist troops in Korea and Man- churia, it is his "firm belief that we are in greater danger of an expanded war today than we have been at any time since the close of the World War in 1945.' Mr. RAYBURN said: "I think that we stand in the face of terrible danger and maybe the beginning of world war III." Mr. MARTIN continued: It should be evident that the administration apparently has informa- tion which is has not imparted to the other Members of Congress and to the American people. We all know that we are in a critical period in our international relations. And that we must use every resource at our com- mand and a maximum of wisdom if we are to survive. We have known that for some time that is why we have the draft and are spending billions for armaments. Whether we are on the immediate brink of another world war, I cannot say. But I do know this -- because of adherence to policies long since proven disastrous, our State Department today is blocking the use of the fullest resources available to us. I refer to the failure to employ the 800,000 anti-Communist Chinese troops on Formosa under the command of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. I discussed this failure to use Formosan troops in a S peech I delivered in Brooklyn on February 12, and I have reexamined this question in several speeches since. Under the legislation we are considering here today, we contemplate calling up tens of thous ands of additional American boys to hold the front in Korea, and for dispersal to Europe. We have had the testimony of General Eisenhower and the highest of ficers of the Pentagon concerning the European theater. The Congress unfortunately has not had the benefit of similar advice from our Far Eastern Command. I want to say to this House that if we are closer to a third world war today than at any time since 1945 because of the current massing of Com- munist troops in Korea and Manchuria, then I think it is imperative for the safety of our Nation that we know completely and thoroughly the views of the Far Eastern Command, and at once. It is because of this belief that I have decided to make public a letter that I received a week ago. Several weeks ago I wrote General MacArthur a note and I enclosed a copy of my February 12 address. I wanted to make sure my views were not in conflict with what was best for America. General MacArthur was kind enough to reply to my letter, and I wish at this time to read it to the House: "DEAR CONGRESSMAN MARTIN: I am most grateful for your note of the eighth forwarding me a copy of your address of February 12. The latter I have read with much interest, and find that with the passage of years you have certainly lost none of your old time punch. "My views and recommendations with respect to the situation created by Red China's entry into war against us in Korea have been submitted to Washington in most complete detail. Generally these views are well known and clearly understood, as they follow the conventional pattern of meeting force with maximum counter force as we have never failed to do in the past. Your view with respect to the utilization of the Chinese forces on Formosa is in conflict with neither logic nor this tradition. "It seems strangely difficult for some to realize that here in Asia is where the Communist conspirators have elected to make