In the direct line of fire 

• 1950 
• Carmack, Paul 
• Drawing 
• Historical item 

6303183

Drawings / paintings

In the direct line of fire

35 x 29 cm

1950

Original pen and ink/pencil/crayon editorial cartoon drawing on art card, 1950, published in the Christian Science Monitor, shows a ‘communist attack’ in the form of a large gun barrel from ‘North Korea’ firing not only at ‘South Korea’ but also at ‘UN prestige’ and ‘US Far East policy’. On 25 June 1950 the Korean War began when some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean Peoples Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. By this time the US had adopted the policy of containment: preventing communist expansionism anywhere, using military force if necessary, so non-intervention was not an option. One of the stated aims of the United Nations was to maintain international peace and security, using armed force if necessary, and this was the first major test of its resolve. Taking no action would seriously damage its prestige. The armed forces sent to Korea were in fact a UN force. Twenty-one UN member states eventually contributed to the defence of South Korea, with the United States providing 88% of the UN's military personnel. Stamped on verso: “Used Jun 28 1950". Signed lower left, card size 35 x 29 cm, image size: 29 x 24.5 cm. Caption in blue crayon in upper border, in overall very good condition.