Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
u. 5. Hesitant 10 Give
|PIedgeto Goto Warif
|Formosa Is Attacked
By John M. Hiehtower
Assoeiotsd Press Sfoff Writer

If Communist China makes a
major attack on the Nationalist
Island Of Formosa, the United
States will go to war. Every top
official willing to discuss Amer
Jean policy publicly or privately
agrees on that.
/ But the Eisenhower admins
tration is not willing, at least for
the time being. to make that
pledge in a formal treaty with
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek
Of the Chinese Nationalist.
Diplomatic Hot Potato.
Almost no responsible author
ity wants to talk about this as
pect Of American policy. It is
too much of a diplomatic hot
potato.
Yet it is a fact that the Amer
lean leadership now gives EVIL
dence Of being whipsawed on a
global scale.
PreSSureS exerted On American
policy are typif1ed by the con-
wasting positions of President
Syngman Rhee Of South Korea
and of Prime Minister Nehru of
India.
Mr.. Rhee vigorously advocates
combat to solve the problems of
Asia. and particularly Of divided
Korea.
Mr.. Nehru seeks to maintain a
policy of neutrality between
communism and the West. His
position is important because of
his influence in Asia, generally
assumed here to be great, and
OF his capacity to influence Brit
ish policy.
Seeks Liberation Role.
Generalissimo Chang has pub
hcly dedicated himself to leading
q liberating army against the
mainland, from which he was
driven by the Reds.
American diplomats say he
appears convinced the Chinese
people would rise in wrath
ARainst the Reds to join his
crusade. State Department Of
Acials, however, are not con-
WINGED this would actually hap
pen. They have discouraged
such ambitions in Chang while
seeking to build up his defensive
strength.
The Eisenhower administra-
ton seems clearly to conceive of
Pormosa as a defensive position
essential to the security of the
American defense line in the
Western Paciflc-not as a base
from which a successful assault
could be launched on Red China
except as one phase Of a much
later strategy.
1.-The Chinese Reds, however,
have been as belligerent about
EormoSa as the Nationalist have
been about the mainland. They
ste continually threatening to
seize it, and their threats have
sounded much louder in WASH
ington since the Indo-China
settlement.
No U. S. Policy Shift.
Secretary of States Dulles re-
minded newsmen yesterday the
United States 7th Fleet is in the
area to protect Formosa in event
of a Communist attack. But Mr..
Dulles added that while some
thought has been given to bring
ing Formosa into a treaty with
this country, there has been no
decision and no change Of policy.
Mr.. Dulles did not mention it,
but dispatches from Formosa
have given evidence of a desire
on the part of Chang for such
alink. Chang has strong SUD-
porters among Republican ranks
In Congress, including Senate
Majority Leader Knowland.
Mr.. Dulles and his aides have
not given their reasons for lack
ing enthusiasm for a pact with
Chang, and it is understood they
are somewhat nervous about the
Possibilities of a big public de-
bate on the subject. That seems
to be the chief reason that all
officials meet inquiries about a
Formosa pact by saying that
has been under study, but is not
a live issue now.