Evening star., 1950-04-06

with respect 10 emma. various
alternatives are apparent: First
some people still think 1t is con-
ceivable that the Nationalist Gov
ernment in Formosa may recon-
quer China from the Communists.
Second. it is possible that a mid
die -the-road or democratic
group in China not necessarily
part Of the Nationalist govern
ment-those whom Gen. Marshall
rightly called "a splendid group
of men"-can still maintain their
strong position in the confidence
of the Chinese people unless we
drive them completely into the
hands Of the Communists. Third,
it is possible that the Chinese
Communists will establish a re-
gime which is Communist. but
substantially independent Of the
Soviet Union-what people loose
ly call Titoism. Fourth, it is pos
sible that the Chinese Communist
government Viii be drawn more
and more completely into the
orbit Of the Soviet Union and will
become a satellite state
Catastrophe Is Possible.
There is one thing, and perhaps
only one thing. that is perfectly
clear. That is. that the fourth
possibility-namely, complete and
absolute absorption in fact of
China by the Soviet Union-would
be an unrelieved catastrophe for
the United States and for the
Chinese people. That means that
our national policy must be to do
everything that we can to bring
about one of the other possibilities
that I have stated: namely, to
assist the Nationalist government
to reconquer China: to preserve
China's independence Of the
Soviet Union even at the distaste-
full price Of accepting 4 govern
ment Of independent. Chinese
Communists; or to encourage the
survival Of the strong but unor-
ganized middle group in China
not necessarily connected with the
Nationalist government - which
might still be able to limit the
power of the Communists and keep
China on q road at least parallel
to democracy in its internal life
and its relations with the outside
world.
Now, gentlemen, as I have said,
I know Of nothing that would be
more helpful to our Nation and our
Government than full and free
debate on this most difficult and
vitality important problem. It is
my view that the Nationalist gov
ernment in Formosa cannot hope
to recaptufe China, and that the
large commitment Of United
States resources in the Formosa
adventure would not merely be
wasteful, but would be of positive
assistance to the Soviet Union
because it would make it possible
and perhaps inevitable for the
Chinese Communists to invite in
creased participation of the Soviet
Union In the conflict.
Let me illustrate this. AS the
air assaults increase, with United
States planes launched by the
Nationalist forces from Formosa
upon the mainland of China, there
is danger-if it is not already a
fact--that the Chinese Commu-
mist government with the backing
Of many of the Chinese people, will
invite the Soviet Union to establish
air bases and to engage actively
IN the air war. I personally be-
lieve that If the Soviet Union es-
tablishes air bases in China they
will not be dismantled when the
Nationalist forces are defeated.
To me this is an appalling pros
pect. To me, this would make it
probable if not certain that the die
is cast-that the Chinese govern
ment and the Chinese people will
be subordinated to the Soviet
Union for a long time to come.
Accordingly. it is my view that
the major American effort must
be in one of the other two direc-
tions: Namely, to encourage q
nationalism. even If it is Com
munist nationalism, capable OF
standing up to the Soviet Union
and maintaining independence in
its dealings with us, or to en-
courage in every possible way the
conditions that will make possible
the survival of a so-called third
force. democratic group within
China, that can change the char
acter of the government. It seems
to me that our long term objective
should clearly be the latter, to
build up conditions that favor a
democratic group, including such
elements of the Kuomintang as
may be available and suitable
But it may be that in the short
run, while working at this long
term objective, our first objective
will have to be to avoid closing
the trap on the Chinese, so that
they feel they have no alternative
but RuSsia-even If it means
temporizing with Titoism.
Now, gentlemen, my analysis of
this may be partly or wholly
wrong. But If anybody says that
it Is disloyal or un-American, he
is fool or a knave. 's' ..
Senator Mccarthy, without, I
am sure. knowing what he is about,
has been and is the instrument or
the dupe of a bitter and i'm
placable and fanatical group of
people who will not tolerate any
discussion Of China which is not
based upon absolute, total and
y.k~ -