Evening star., 1954-05-11
Dulles Asks Asia Pact
Carrying War Pledge
fired Push Continues
Continued From First Page0

NSSA4SAAASASNA =
muniSts can agree on truce terms
for Indo- China.
Mr.. Dulles told the news con-
ference that the truce terms as
offered yesterday in Geneva by
the Communist Viet-Minh were
certainly unacceptable to the
United States in their totality.
The United States, he said, found
acceptable a rival French truce
proposal, although details re-
mained to be worked out.
Hope Seen without IndO- China.
Although Mr.. Dulles showed
for the first time how far he was
willing for the United States to
go to try to save Indo-C China,
he seemed to go out of his way
to emphasize that all was not
lost even if Indo-C China fell to
the Reds.
Informed that President Ell
senhower recently stated that
1ndo-China and Southeast Asia
were of transcendental impor-
tance, Mr.. Dulles said the two
are quite different. He recalled
that he had stated in speeches
that Southeast Asia contained
oil, rubber and tin. He added
that these attributes do not ap-
ply to Indo-C China. He said that
he had never confused all of
Southeast Asia with Indo-China.
Mr.. Dulles said he believed
Southeast Asia could be held
against the Communists even If
Indo-China is overrun. The pur-
pose of the treaty, he said, is to
save all of Southeast Asia if pos
sible.
Asked if Laos and Cambodia
were essential, Secretary Dulles
replied that they were impor-
tant, but not essential.
Trying to Change Thesis.
Mr.. Dulles was asked if this
thought violated Gen. Eisen-
hower's falling domino" thesis
that of one nation falls to the
Reds, so might the next, and
the next.
He replied that the situation
in Southeast Asia was subject
to that thesis, but we are try
ing to change it so that will not
be the case.
Mr.. Dulles said that while
Southeast Asia could be secured
with Associated States of Indo-
China, he did not want to un-
dereStimate their Importance,
nor did he want to give the i'm
preston that they were going to
be lost or that we are giving up
hope of saving Southeast Asia
even If they are lost.
At the same time, he said, he
wouldn't give up in despair or
cry that the situation was hope
less even if Indo- China were
lost.
Mr.. Dulles again expressed
confidence in the military
Soundness of the So-called Ma
varre plan. for military conquest
of Communicated areas in
Indo-C China. He said there is
no military reason why this
program could not be carried
out; the problem was the will
to carry through.
Retaliation Policy Backed.
Mr.. Dulles also reaffirmed
faith in the global strategy of
massive retaliation. The policy.
he said, has served its purpose
and is sound.
Mr.. Dulles, informed that for
mer President Truman had said
that bipartiSanship in foreign
policy was deteriorating, said he
saw no signs of such deteriora-
ton. He said he has received and
he expects to receive co-opera-
ton from Democrats on foreign
policy problems. He said that
David Bruce, a Democratic hold
over in the State Department,
now was fulfilling the role that
Mr.. Dulles himself had taken as
a State Department official while
Democratic were in control.
Mr.. Dulles denied anew that
he suffered a diplomatic defeat
in the early stages Of the Geneva
conference but acknowledged
that Great Britain provoked a
certain showdown in talks on the
Southeast Asia pact before the
Geneva conference convened. He
reiterated the great difficulties
Of arranging such a~pact because
Of the very great differences in
race, religions, traditions and
degrees of independence among
states in the area.
Will Report to House.
Mr.. Dulles arranged to give a
secret report later today to the