SEOUL, June 25 (Pac. S&S) — Syngman Rhee this morning faced about 500,000 mute Koreans to scorn the armistice pact and warned that his people who endanger the national interest by encouraging a factional split will be punished.

The aged leader, speaking from the steps of the gutted capitol building, told his huge war-anniversary audience that anti-government elements are taking advantage of his nation's critical situation by spreading word that the entire Korean people want a truce.

"THE PEOPLE SHOULD refrain from unscrupulous conducts and see to it that traitorous elements are duly condemned by law," the Korean leader said in measured tones.

The 78-year old leader said the present situation does not allow the people to give up hope or to fail in morale. "We should be united in action and speech," he said to the throng choking the capitol lawn and spilling for blocks around the area.

SCORING THE armistice pact as a "death warrant" Rhee brought up two points in the agreement he said his "nation absolutely cannot accept:" The presence of Chinese forces in Korea and the proposal that India might bring armed forces into guard the prisoners.

"If we are ever to permit pro-Communist foreign troops to enter our country and force us to become Communist," the president said, "we might as well stop the wars and quit talking about an armistice or the like."

The president said that of a total of three years of war, "a mere one year has been devoted to the fighting, with the remaining two years devoted to the negotiation of truce."

HE SAID HE was being blasted for releasing more than 28,000 "non-Communist" prisoners by "such affiliates of the United Nations as are pro-Communists."

Rhee stated his sole objective is to preserve Korean existence, not in any way to ignore, oppose, or reject the intentions of the Allies. He called the present situation more perilous than the one this nation faced three years ago.

"It is with truly heavy heart that we should act contrary to the friendship of President Eisenhower and against his wishes," he said. "We cannot act the other way, however, because if we do so we will have to face death.

"MANY OF THE United Nations soldiers here in Korea are in sympathy with us, but they must also follow instructions of their respective governments. We should, therefore, not complain what they do here and instead prevent reactionary elements from causing misunderstanding among the friendly soldiers."

The Korean leader thanked the U.N. for the help it has rendered his war-torn peninsula. He wound up his speech with an appeal to the Korean people. He said he could convince foreigners of the determination of Korea by a popular vote.

"But whether others understand us or not, we should unite ourselves and march on indominably without hesitation."

Migrated