The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1954-04-22
Congressional
Viewpoint
Sen. John Marshall Butler

Today. we behold a world divided
not merely by geographical boun-
daries but also by antagonistic
philosophers. One is based upon
mans dignity as a human being,
the other upon atheistic COM
munism. This disparity is amplified
by the present crisis in mdo-Chna.
Indo-China is truly the door to
Southeast Asia which encompasses
not only Indo-China but also, Bur
ma, Malaga and Thailand. If Indo-
China should fall, the treacherous
international communist conspira-
cy will have acquired an important
and vital base for expansion to the
east, south and west-thereby
gaining control Of more than 40
million people Greater than the
population Of the Z. s. and an
area approximately one-half the
size of the United States. Conquest
of this territory could lead ulti-
mately to the naturalization Of
Japan, the Philippines, and perhaps
the entire Western Pacific.
Great is the wealth of this area.
Briefly, here in balance are the
following natural resources ..
abundant supplies of tungsten, iron,
zinc, manganese, coal and anti
mony an increasing output of
oil (now estimated at 10000 bar
rels per day. -. more than half
the worlds production of tin q.
the worlds best source of natural
rubber and vast rice exports
of great political significance. You
will recall that in World War II,
Japan seized this rich region in
race for empire.
So you see-that speck on your
map or globe is more than just a
speck. The forces Of atheistic com
munism must be here curtailed if
freedom for all peoples is to be
preserved
President Eisenhower and Secre-
taly of State John Foster Dulles
have recently enumerated, with
great clarity and vivid impact, the
need for united action" in regard
to mdo-China and Southwest Asia.
Senate Majority Leader, Senator
Knowland, of California, an assidi-
Gus student of Far Eastern affairs,
has long advocated such a policy
Obviously, the United States can
not alone resist communist aggres-
sion in all corners of the world. Al
ready, certain military technicians
and war materials have been sent
to Indo-China, but the Congress
and the Administration are de-
telmined that only concerted ac-
ton, including those of our allies
whose interests are inherent to
that section, can solve this eX-
tremely sensitive problem.
Secretary Dulles dramatic flight
to Great Britain and France last
week had two specific purposes
% to obtain common declaration
Of solidarity in dealing with the
Red menace in Southeast Asia, and
(2) to emphasize the ominous sig
nificance and urgency of recent
communist advances in Indo-China.
The success of these high-level dip
lomatic conversations will proba-
bly, become more apparent in the
days to come, but undoubtedly, the
echo of these discussions will re-
sound at the forthcoming Geneva
Conference, at which the COM
munists are expected to inject the
question of recognition of Red
China as an odious bargaining
wedge.
The present situation in Indo-
China might we'll be characterized
as a crisis for the entire free world.
When viewed in the light of the
announced communists detectives
of world suppression and subjuga-
|
ton, the word "crisis" seems gross
ly inadequate.