Evening star., 1950-08-29
Allies Beat Back Reds in 2 Battles:
Truman Sends Formosa Letter
To Macarthur Explaining Stand
Praises Generals
Work.; 6. 0. P.
AssoiIs Gag
By Joseph A. Fox

President Truman today sent to
Gen. Macarthur a copy of his let
ter to United Nations Delegate
Warren r. Austin summarizing
American foreign policy in For
,nosa. With the letter, the Presi-
dent explained that it would en-
able the Pacific commander to un-
derstand why Mr.. Truman direct
ed withdrawal of his controversial
statement to the Veterans of For
Clgn Wars.
Meanwhile, the matter shaped
u2 as major political issue in the
forthcoming congressional cam
,'aigns as Republicans lined up in
favor of Gen. Macarthur as
against the administrations pol
icieS in the Far East and particu-
tarly in regard to Formosa and
Korea.
There was no amplification from
the White House on the reason be-
hind the Presidents letter to Gen.
Macarthur.
In raising anew the question of
the Macarthur statement which
declared that occupation of For
mosa by an unfriendly power
would be an open avenue to war,
the President praised the United
Nations commander for his con-
duct of the Korean fighting saying
that he had received satisfactory
and highly gratifying reports from
Gen. Collins, Army Chief of Staff,
and Admiral Sherman, Chief of
Naval Operations, who have just
returned from the Pacific.
Letter Restates Policy.
The administration policy on
Formosa which is now the seat
of the government of the exiled
Chinese Nationalists was restated
in the letter to Mr.. Austin yester-
day. In it the President stressed
that this Government had intend
ed to "neutralize" Formosa by
moving in the 7th Fleet and di-
recting the Chinese Nationalists
to refrain from attacking the
Communicated mainland, at the
time United States troops were
thrown into Korea.
The text Of the Presidents mes
sage to Gen. Macarthur follows:
Il am sending you for your in
formation the text of a letter
which I sent to Ambassador
Austin dated August 81. I am
sure that when you examine this
letter, and the letter which Am
bassador Austin addressed to
(U. N. Secretary-GeneraD Trygve
Lie on August Is "a copy of which
I am told was sent to your head
quarters that night, you will
understand why my action of the
26th in directing the withdrawal
OF your message to the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars was necessary.
Ross Refuses to Comment.
Gen Collins and Admiral Sher-
man have given me comprehen-
sive report of their conversation
with you and of their visit to the
United Nations forces now fight
ing under your command in Ko-
rea. Their reports were most sat-
lsfactory and highly gratifying
to me-"
Asked why the message was
sent, White House Press Secretary
Charles G.. Ross said:
Il think I can't comment on
that. I think the message speaks
for ITSELF"
Mr.. Ross parried a question as
to whether the President had re-
ceived any communications from
Gen. Macarthur after ordering
the statement withdrawn.
The message to Gen. Macarthur
today came in the nature of a sur
prise as the White House had said
yesterday that the incident was
considered closed.
Reports from Tokyo were to the
enect that Gen. Macarthur was
adopting the same attitude.
AS the impact of President
Truman's action was registered
on Capitol Hill. Republican stall
(See MACARTHUR, Page A-6)