MacArthur Is Sacked!

AS we go to press, there comes the announcement that certain elements of the United Nations have induced President Truman to dismiss General Douglas MacArthur from his post as Eastern Commander-in-Chief and officer in charge of Japan.

The cheers of the Communists can be heard across the world. That was to be expected. Probably, there is no man alive whom Moscow hates more than it hates MacArthur. His methods of dealing with bombastic Red emissaries who tried to interfere with his work in Tokio is classical, and an example for all our so called leaders.

But, almost as loud, are the cheers of our Pink Fellow-Travellers, who are supposed to be directing our defence against Moscow. The Socialist members of the British Commons could not contain their joy, MacArthur, above all men, represented the policy of cold, firm justice, backed by ruthless military strength, which is the only thing the masses of Asia and Africa can understand and respect. MacArthur, above all men, knows how to deal with the mounting problems of the East. But, because he is naturally a dictator—and we are fast reaching the stage when only dictatorship will save us from world-wide Communism—every little Pink planner and babbling politician has been screaming against him.

MacArthur, probably, will disappear.

At 71, he is too old to take the place that awaits him, and to start a new career.

His dismissal marks a grave development in international affairs—perhaps a period of attempted appeasement—a time-wasting period for which Russia has been manoeuvring.

But the peoples of all the South Pacific countries will never forget the brilliant General who halted and smashed the Japanese invasion, and drove the enemy to ingnominious surrender in Tokio Bay.