Evening star., 1952-11-02

nlSG neWSpaperman OF the terms
under which that cid was to be
given. 1ndonesians generally, spanked
by the howl from the Moscow
inspired Reds, felt that the aid offer
had too many strings tied to it. But
insiders say President Soekarno and
his government hope that a strong
American vote for their present ad-
ministration's foreign policies. in
suring a continuity in American
world leadership for the next four
years. may help them to strengthen
their hands against the Communists.
They could use the American aid to
good advantage, if on acceptable
terms. to relieve the economic pinch
which is playing into Red hands.
Critical Time in Philippines
The Philippines is just beginning
to feel the beneficial effects of both
long-range and an emergency eco
nomic aid program by the United
States, These are designed to re-
lieve the ravages of the war and to
make that country self-sufficient in
food supplies. The time is a critical
one in the Philippines because of the
drop in copra and sugar prices which
have brought in most Of that coun-
try's foreign exchange. The Huks
are still poised in the mountains.
ready on Moscow orders to strike
when conditions become more favor
able. But their support among the
peasants is being whitfield away by
the obvious sincerity of the MSA
mission. under DR.. Roland r. Renne.
IN refraining from interfering in the
sovereignty Of the island republic.
Any lag or reduction now in either
economic or military aid could cause
critical situation within a few
months.
Thailand has always been very in.
dependent, but has been definitely
Wooed over to stronger anti-Com-
munist stand by the effective military
and economic aid program America
is running there. But the Thai are
realistS. If they are confronted hv
any American foreign policy reversal.
they quite possibly could manage to
make their peace with the Com
munists. After all, they have
managed such switches in the past.
as both the japanese and Americans
found out in World War II. Any
embrace OF the Reds by Thailand
would be serious blow to the rice
short areas, such as Japan, Hong
Kong and the Philippines, which buy
all OF that staple Far Eastern cereal
Thailand can spare.
Korean Attitude
The South Koreans have put up a
strong and courageous battle. Hum
dreds Of thousands of them are
either dead or imprisoned by the
North Koreans and Chinese Reds.
They are well aware that while the
United Nations is ostensibly in COM
mand, 1t Is America to whom they
must look for food and other re-
quirements for their civilian popula-
ton as well as military aid. / left
that region before General Eisen-
hover made his proposal that "Asians
must fight Asians" but it could
hardly have been well received. Their
manpower resources already are
strained. They have been battling
to the best Of their ability for more
than two years. It probably has
strengthened the hand Of the Com
muniSt adherentS still in their midst.
In Indo-C China the situation al-
ready is reaching a critical stage.
The French and Wet Namese have
been strongly encouraged by the aid
which has been reaching them from
America. Any wavering Of that sup
port could be disastrous. A strong
American economic and military aid
policy is must If Ho Chi-minh's Red
rebels are to be held back. Eisenhow-
er's talk of cutting the defense budg-
ct thus fills the French and Indo-
Chinese with apprehension. too.
Republicans have made political
issue of the Truman administrator
aid to Chang Kai-shek on Formosa.
Chang, an adept in international
politics. is playing both sides of the
political fence In the United States.
He has been strengthened immeas-
urably In the past year. Even Sem
at0r Taft has Advocated mora feln