Evening star., 1950-06-11

tary equipment would permit It's
forces to resist a Communist in
vasion. The military men, who
are not concerned with political
ideologies, maintain stanchly that
Formosa can resist indefinitely ii
we extend to its defenders even
half the support the Russians are
giving their Communist stooges.
These views have been made
dramatically clear by Gen. Mac
Arthur, but they have failed to
bulge the "old China hands" in
the Far Eastern division of the
State Department who formulate
the policies which Secretary Ach-
eson presents to the President.
Gen. Macarthur for some time has
been a thorn in the side of the
State Department and his strong
conclusions are disregarded as
coming from IAN old militarist
who does not keep abreast of new
tfenOS IN Lne WOflo.
The administration has decided
to spend upward of $23 million
for the defense of Indo- China. 1t
has done so with a degree of re-
luctance since the French govern
ment has not shown itself willing
to give the Indo- Chinese the same
independence which we forced the
Netherlands to give the Indo-
nesians. But since France is re-
garded as the main pivot of West
ern defense. the administration
could not refuse the request of the
Paris government, particularly
when Foreign Minister Schuman
pointed out that his country could
not effectively assist the defense
OF Europe unless America assumes
the burden of providing arms and
ammunition for the French forces
in Indo-China.
French Chances Slim
In spite of this support. it is
highly doubtful that the French
will be able to hold Indo- China
They have had some 10000
metropolitan troops in that ares
since 1946 when Ho Chi Mini
the Moscow puppet, started his
rebellion. During those years wher
the guerrillas could receive only
smuggled war materials from
Russia, the French were unable
either to put down 'the rebellion
or capture its leader. Now thai
the Communists have defeated
the Nationalists in China and the
Red Army is poised in strength
on the Indo- Chinese border, the
French chances are even less, in
spite of the assistance that they
already are receiving from Amer
lea. ,...
The natives who, like all Asiat-
les, recognize and respect only
force, are impressed by the defeat
of the "American-supported" Ma
tionalists in CHINA myth which
is being exploited by the Red prop
aganda; by Britain's loss of face
and by the inability OF their mas
ters," the French, to destroy He
and his guerrillas. The net result
is that the overwhelming majority
of Cambodians, Annamites anc
Wet Namese are on Ho Chi Minis
side. Those who have not actually
Joined the guerrillas are acting
as his spies. agents and subver-
sives in the areas where thu
French are stationed.
Paying for Blindness
Now that the Communists ar,
in force at the French borders anc
also occupy the island of Hainan
which the Japanese took over ir
1889 preparatory to the invasion ol
Indo- China. the chances of savinl
the country are at best extremely
limited. Our political men havt
failed to recognize the Sovie
strategy of waging a war of con
quest in the Far East and tn,
West is paying for this blindness
The situation in Malaga is les
spectacular but equally bad. Al
soon as the Reds decide to maxi
their final bid for Indo- China tn,
fate Of Malaga. where the British
have been fighting asguerrilla wa
for the last two years, will b,
sealed.
The military analysts, who arr
not moved by emotions, fear tha
once these last two Western col
onies in East Asia have fallel
into the hands of the Kremlir
through its usual stooges, the In
donesians will be in real danger
We in this country sang tn,
hosannas of a great democrati,
victory when the Dutch agreed tt
give the Jakart government it!
complete freedom. Theoretical,
it was good thing. 1t woult
have been excellent and admir-.
able If We lived in a period O.
peace and not a shooting war
Within a period of Is to so year.
the Indonesians, carefully sup
ported by the Western nations
could have become a self -relian
nation. They have the popula.
ton and the economic resources
for it.
Lost Protecting Power
Unfortunately they were Gu
loose from their protecting power
in times of heavy storms. They
are still at a safe distance from
the Russians and their puppets
but if Moscow's plans are full.
filled in the next IL months theil
chances of survival are very
meager.
The stockade which we hav,
begun building across the Atlanti,
may be well conceived. But W,
are left wide open in the Pacific
where in the last three years tn,
SovietS. under our very eyes, hav,