Evening star., 1950-05-07
Western Ministers
To Plan Three-sided
Defense Against Red,
By the Assoeiated Press


Western foreign ministers in a
series of meetings beginning here
tomorrow.
Secretary Of State Acheson is
flying from Washington to at
tend the meetings, which will be
shifted later in the week to Lon
don.
A well-informed source tonight
outlined the program this way:
laid will be shaped for France
in the Indo- China war.
2. The North Atlantic treaty
group will act for the first time
on reports of its defense and
other subcommittee.
3. The Western powers will re-
view what new steps can be taken
to keep Germany headed West,
instead of veering East.
Soviet Attitude Hardened.
The informant suggested, how
ever, that dramatic decisions
should not be expected from the
conference, saying:
Keep in mind that meetings
of the Western foreign ministers
have been held about every three
or four months for some time.
They meet when there is enough
to Justify meeting"
At the same time he said the
Western powers recognize that
Russia has hardened her attitude
on all fronts and counter-harden-
ing is eXpectable.
One concrete thing seemed
likely to emerge, the formation of
a strong body within the North
Atlantic treaty group able to
meet more often than the min
listers and to act for them in
building the treaty force into a
real defense against Russia.
Reporters learned that a more
active body. including big names
from the IL treaty nations, is
wanted. Defense must be co-ordi-
mated with economics and eco
nomics with arms production. Re-
ports on all three of these major
subjects have been laid before
he Atlantic treaty ministers to be
AIKEN up at their London meeting.
Quick Help Sought from U. S.
The French seek quick help
rom the United States in their
war against the Communicated
guerrillas in China. About
SIS million has been ticketed from
the $75 million which President
Truman was authorized to spend
in meeting the Communist threat
in the Far East. Much of the
balance has been spent or al
located to other jobs.
French Communists called to-
day for a peace demonstration"
during Mr.. Acheson's two-day visit
to this city.
Foreign Minister Schuman is
expected to tell Mr.. Acheson that
France needs prompt and plenti-
full supplies of guns to win the.
four-year- war against the
guerrilas of Ho Chi Mimi.
If the aid is not sent quickly,
French diplomats. say, there is a
danger that Russian supported
Southeast Asian Communist fight
ers may sweep through all Of
Indo-C China and imperil both
Thailand (Siam) and Burma.
Mr.. Acheson is to confer in
Paris also with his top advisers on
Germany. But the Acheson-
Schuman talks are expected to
stick close to the Worsening situa-
ton in Southeast Asia.
Some Military Aid Pledged.
The United States already has
promised some military aid to
Indo-China, but France says 1t is
both too little and too slow.
France has some 10000 troops,
from her regular army, colonial
divisions and the famed Foreign
Legion. fighting the guerrillas in
the jungles and rice paddles. The
war cost is estimated at $500 mil
lion a year.
Ho has recently been getting
help from Red China across his
northern border, the French say.
Russia and other Communist ma
tions have recognized Hos jungle
regime as the government of Wet
Nam, one of the three states of
Indo-China. France has installed
former Emperor Bao Dai as chief
Of state and promised Wet Nam
eventual independence as men,
Der of the French union.
Character of War Changed.
France may promise to speed
up this independence for Wet Nam
and the sister states of Laos and
Cambodia in return for swifter
military help.
Communist victories in China,
followed by the recognition of
Ho by the Soviet orbit, changed
the war in Indo-China from a
colonial security measure to
war against Communist world
domination, a Foreign Office in
formant said.
France also will insist to Mr..
Acheson that all military aid given
for the fight be channeled through
French hands rather than Indo-
Chinese.
This is necessary" the in
formant said, because it is stra-
tegic. 1t would be loss of the
equipment and of possibly the
fight for the aid to go directly to
native troops, unframed and un-
officered."