Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-22
Eisenhower on indo-C hinu


Eisenhower on indo-C China
President Eisenhower has used the Ian
guage Of understatement IN declaring that
the United States does not like certain fea-
lures OF the Indo-C China agreement and
will stand aloof from IT. At the same time,
however, expressing the hope that 1t will
lead to q decent peace, and Affirming that
American force will not be used to disturb
1t, he has. made clear that our country is
intensely interested las 1t must be-in do
ing whatever it can TO insure the durability
OF the settlement.
To that end, as the President has en-
phasized, our Government has issued Spe-
cific warning at Geneva that aany renewal
OF Communist aggression would be viewed
by us as matter of grave concern" Further,
as evidence Of our resolve" in this matter,
he has announced measures to establish
strong diplomatic ties with Laos and Cam
bodia as countries entitled by the settle
ment to enjoy full independence and SOW
ereignty. And as for Wet Nam-that Is to
say, the part Of it that still remains free
under the partitioning agreement has
been at pains to assert that our already
established embassy mission will continue
to be maintained at Saigon, the capital Of
this third and richest Of the three Associ-
ated States OF Indo- China.
In addition-and here Is the most I'M
portant part Of his statement-tne Presi-
dent has had this to say: "The United States
is actively pursuing discussions with other
free nations with view to the rapid organ
ization of collective defense In Southeast
Asia In order to prevent further direct or
indirect Communist aggression in that gem
eral area" AS he has explained it in the
past, and as Secretary of State Dulles has
explained 1t, this projected new security
coalition would be comparable to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization and it would
be set up; like NATo, In keeping with the
u. N. Charters provisions for regional ALI
ances. Presumably, although it could be
enlarged upon later to include other neigh
boring powers, it would be made up initially
of countries Immediately and chiefly az
fected by what happens in that strategi-
cally vital part of the world namely, Thai
land, Australia, New Zealand, the Philip
pines, France, Britain and the United States.
Most. of these countries Thailand the
first among them-h have declared their
readiness, in principle at least, to join with
us In such pact. Accordingly, If that read
sible into arm treaty commitments. there
will be good reason to look hopefully to the
day when the whole project will be built UP
into a well-armed defensive alliance capable
of operating as effectively in South and
Southeast Asia as NATO operates in Europe.
More than that, when and II it becomes a
solid working reality, other countries in the
area including perhaps even India and
Indonesia- may be impressed and pleased
enough. by 1t to participate In it as active
members willing to do their share for mu-
tual security against the Communist threat.
Moscow and Peiping, Of course, are Bit
terly opposed to this projected enterprise,
but they cannot stop 1t II the nations prin-
cipally concerned move, resolutely ahead
with it. There can be no doubt, in any
event, that something very much like it is
imperative If the Communists after they
have taken sufficient time out to digest
their great gains in Wet Nam--are to be
prevented from striking forward to conquer
and enslave the rest Of Southeast Asia. Ger
tainly, as the President has indicated, that
is the chief moral of the story OF the free
worlds severe setback In Indo-C China.