University Daily Kansan
Page 9
Park Chung Hee's Succession Looks Certain. But Vote is Close
SEOUL, Korea —(UPI)—Military junta chairman Park Chung Hee, the peppery little ex-general who can be expected to irritate the United States on small matters but agree with it on basic policies, appeared certain of election today as South Korean president.
THE CLOSE FIGHT put up by the 66-year-old Yun meant that Park's apparent victory gives him no mandate to do what he pleases for the next four years.
Park, 46, led former president Posun Yun in unofficial returns by 4,471,300 votes to 4,379,084. This represented all but about a million of the 10,857,062 votes cast.
And hard political and military realities prevent Park from showing too much independence from the United States, although there have been recent reports that he would seek to follow a more neutralist line in foreign policy.
There are 50,000 U.S. soldiers here to help guard South Korea against aggression from the Communist North, and the United States spends nearly 500 million annually in military and economic aid to Korea.
U. S. AND United Nations observers watched some of the polling places, and despite charges of irregularities from both sides, the election was non-violent and appeared generally honest.
Yun, however, was expected to contest the results as bitterly as he fought his campaign.
There is no recount guaranteed by election law, but local election committees can order district-by-district recounts.
Victory for Park means a continuation of the rule he assumed in May, 1961, when his officers and troops overthrew the civilian government of Premier John M Chang and set up the military junta.
THERE WERE reports Yun left his home for a hideout today in anticipation of losing and in fear of arrest. But aides said he was at home, reading the returns and resting.
Yun and other opponents argued in the campaign that Park would only be continuing junta rule in another form if elected.
Other causes of friction were his delays in the holding of the elections and his announcement on election eve of the purchase of $5 million worth of Canadian and Australian grain. The United States contends there is no food shortage here because of U.S. grain gifts, and says the Korean economy needs the money for other purchases.
PARK HAS GONE against U.S. wishes in many of his moves, including the military takeover that put him in power.
Park was believed to have bought the grain to keep food prices down and win urban votes.
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Olathe Rotary to Host 35 Foreign Students
Thirty-five KU foreign students will travel to Olathe this week-end where they will be the guests of Olathe Rotary club members and their families.
The students will leave by bus from the Kansas Union at 12:45 p.m. Saturday and return at 4 p.m., Sunday.
Plans for the trip have been coordinated on campus by KU People-to-People.
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