Evening star., 1949-12-14
Next-Indo-Chino

The collapse of Chinese Nationalist re-
sistance on the mainland and the conse-
quent advance of Communist military
power to China's continental land and sea
frontiers pose a whole series of .politico-
strategic problems for the Western Powers
If Communist expansion and penetration
is to be halted at China's borders. For
mosa is just now in the limelight, but
there are other trouble spots actually or
potentially as dangerous. And one OF these
Is certainly French Indo China.
The long dreaded arrival of Chinese
Communist troops on Indo-China's north
ern border threatens to worsen an already
unstable and unsatisfactory situation.
Ever since the close of the late war, France
has been striving to restore some measure
of control over it's rich Far Eastern colony.
However, when the French returned after
the japanese evacuation they found an
insurgent Nationalist regime which not
only demanded virtual independence, but
was also largely under native Communist
leadership headed by an extremely able
personality named Ho Chi Mini. Compro-
mise negotiations having come to naught,
fighting broke out between the French and
the insurgents, and has continued ever
since. Despite French forces aggregating
some 10000, native resistance persists,
and four years of warfare have largely
ruined Indo-C -China's economy.
Unable to subdue the country by sheer
force, the French attempted to divide the
native Nationalists from the Communists
by negotiating an agreement with the for
mer Emperor of AMMAN, who was promised
full self government within French I'M
perial Union. If promptly ratified by the
French Assembly, this agreement might
have had measure OF success. Unfortu-
nately, it became a football Of French
politics, and the Assembly has not yet
ratified Until ratification, the Bao Dai
regime has no diplomatic status and can
not be recognized by America, Britain, or
other foreign powers. All this has weak
ened the regimes prestige in Indo-Chlna
itself and lends color to Communist
charges that Bao Dai is a mere puppet
and tool of Western imperialism"
The situation was bad enough when the
Chinese frontier was held by Nationalist
forces who would cooperate with the
French border garrisons in checking Com
lIlllltIdGlUIl. INOW IlldG bl1C SI14AACoC
Reds are in direct contact, the possibilities
of aid to Ho Chi Mini, open or clandestine,
ARE only too obvious The probabilities are
that, for the moment, no open Red inter-
'vention will take place. But the Chinese
Communists are so skilled in the tactics
OF subterranean aid that they could notably
strengthen the insurgents without pro-
voking diplomatic issue. And since the
French have their hands full keeping a
partial measure Of control. such an increase
in insurgent strength might suffice to tip
the scales.
The French are seeking desperately for
support from America and Britain. But
we and the British do not see eye to eye
on policy toward Red China. And there
is no indication that our Government
meditates direct aid to the French in Indo-
China. However, native Communist
victory there would lay open the whole
flank of Southeast Asia to Communist
inhltrkion. Like Formosa, here is another