Evening star., 1949-11-17
Our Face in Chino


of the Flying Cloud, the United States of
America-generally regarded as the most
powerful country in the worlds con-
fronted with the problem of trying to
recover the face" it has lost as a result
of rough treatment by both sides in Chtna's
civil war, particularly by the Communists.
As far as the Nationalists are concerned,
we regard them as our friends and the
only legitimate government in China. Yet,
using one OF the destroyer escorts we have
given to them, they have fred upon the
American freighter Flying Cloud in an
unsuccessful effort to prevent 1t from
breaking through their blockade of Com
munist-held Shanghai. Though the Incl
it constitutes a plain case of endangering
the lives of our citizens under the pro-
lection of our flag.
Since certain extenuating circumstances
mark this case, however, including re-
gretful and semi-apologetic warning issued
by the Nationalist vessel prior to the firing,
our reaction, according to Secretary Ache
son, will be limited to formal note pro-
testing against the endangering Of lives.
But If such q relatively mild rebuke Is
sufficient to restore our face" in connec-
ton with the Flying Cloud, something
much more emphatic is needed to cope
with the peculiarly insulting and out
rageous course the Chinese Communists
have followed in their treatment of
American Consul General Angus Ward and
four of his associates in Mukden.
On October "a, these five Americans were
arrested on apparently fraudulent charges
Of beating Chinese employe In q wage
dispute. Since then, despite q State De-
partment note on November calling upon
the Peiping Communists to release them
and explain the situation, nothing has been
heard of, from or about them. The Red
regime of Mao Tze-tung has maintained
a complete and contemptuous silence, de-
clining even to intimate whether they are
well, sick or possibly dead Thus, through
the deliberate maltreatment of the SER
wants of our Government, the Kremlin's
followers in China have in effect brazenly
maltreated the United States itself.
In an earlier age, such conduct, coming
from such a source, would have been
promptly countered with . stern show Of
force. But today, owing to the peculiar
nature Of the Chinese situation, it seems
romantically unrealistic to think Of posi-
bilities like sending out the fleet to land
the Marines against the Communists and
force them to hand over Mr.. Ward and
his associates. Powerful as the United
States Is, it is not eager to resort to direct
physical action when the world Is in an
explosive state. With what seems to be
wisdom, If not boldness or derring g-do, 1t
apparently intends-as when the Yugo-
slavs shot down unarmed American planes
some time ago-to seek satisfaction and
save "face" by conflning itself, at least
for the present, to indirect but not neces-
sarily ineffective pressures.
Thus, as Secretary Acheson has made
clear, as long as the five Americans are
held under arrest, the United States will
not even consider the possibility OF extend
ing recognition to the Chinese Com
munists. Moreover, he has made clear
that our Government is studying all pos
sible concrete steps-which conceivably
could include the imposition Of a block
ade-to force them to comply with our
demands.
To Americans impatient for direct
action, all this may seem to be quite
wishy washy, but 1t ought not to be dis
missed as meaningless. The recognition
issue is important to the Peiping Reds, and
they are in no position to laugh of the
possibility that some Of our indirect pres
sures might hurt them very hard. It is
not unthinkable that before long they will
find 1t wise to do what is needed to save
"face"