Eliot, Fairbank Argue War Policy at Alumni Convention

Either the United Nations should give more support to the U.S. in the Korean war, or we should stop supplying five-sixths of the forces there, William Y. Elliott, Williams Professor of History, told the Associated Harvard Clubs convention in Chicago last Friday. Elliott was debating Far Eastern policy with John K. Fairbank '29, professor of History.

Elliott supported MacArthur's proposed measures of bombing China and blockading Communist ports there. If the British won't come in with us on the latter point he continued, we should go ahead without them. We can't let England tie us down to an importent defense, he said. Fairbank opposed these moves, calling support of MacArthur's ideas "a persuasive invitation to suicide." An attack on Chinese bases, he asserted, would implement the treaty under which Russia aids China, and this would precipitate World War III. He attacked blocking Communist ports because the confusion would result in our firing on British ships as well as Chinese.

Eliott also advocated an all out war with Red China if it didn't follow a cease fire order from the U.N. He said if our allies "can't come to our aid here, let them get out of our way."

Fairbank countered that such a program would only deprive the U.S. of forces in Europe by alienating our allies. President Conant moderated the forum. He also spoke on Saturday night, urging the rearmament of Europe and the unity of Asia.

New officers were elected during the convention's business meeting. Neil H. McElroy '25 of Cincinnatti, president of Proctor and Gamble, was elected president. Archer O'Reilly, Jr. '31 of St. Louis has re-elected secretary, and H. S. Paydon Rowe '22 was renamed treasurer.

The debate started off a week-end of meeting and activity for alumni from all over the world.

Saturday morning was filled with the annual A.H.C. business meeting, Lunch the Hotel Sherman followed.