The Struggling Frog

Those who are hopeful of a Korean truce believe that the Reds are testing U.N. patience to the utmost in order to squeeze out the best possible terms for themselves: when they see they have nothing further to gain, they will make a deal. The pessimists—among whom General Ridgway must be counted since his scathing analysis of "Operation Quagmire" (TIME, Feb. 18)—believe that the Communists make minor concessions from time to time simply to keep the talks going indefinitely. The optimists have had almost nothing to feed on lately, but they keep on making hand-to-mouth motions, apparently from force of habit.

Last week some minor progress on minor issues was visible, but the major deadlocks remained unbroken. Of these, the most delicate and troublesome is the question of forced or voluntary repatriation of war prisoners. Someone had the bright idea that if the Communists were allowed to save face by secret negotiations, agreement might be reached.

For a few days, only vague hints of progress came through the newly imposed news blackout. Then the Reds broke the spell. Peking radio announced that the allies had submitted a new proposal, but since it was still based on voluntary repatriation, it had been turned down.

Thus, as it had a hundred times before, the struggling frog of peace climbed a foot and slipped back a yard on the slippery side of the Panmunjom well.