National Affairs: Korean Treaty

To its network of defense pacts with four Pacific area nations,* the U.S. added a fifth last week.

By a vote of 81-6. the Senate ratified the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of Korea. Chief provision: each nation agrees to help the other fend off an external aggression, but only "in accordance with its constitutional processes." The U.S. is not obliged under the treaty t01) support an independent South Korean military liberation of North Korea, 2) defend South Korea against internal subversion, or 3) keep troops in South Korea, though the right to do so is assured.