Evening star., 1954-06-06
Popular Misconceptions About the Indo-Chino Wo'

Their newly acquired heavy artil-
lery and other equipment will be of
less value to them, but they will
still be able to march and fight with
small arms and their lighter NOR
tars. The French and Wet Namese.
on the other hand, will be operating
out of fixed positions and still will
be able to use their heavy weapons.
Whether Wet Mimi Gen. Vo Nguyen
Clap thinks he can accept this dis
advantage in heavy equipment Is
something he will disclose in his
own good time. IL.
Political Misconceptions
There have been, since the war
started in 1946. a good many mis-
conceptions about political aspects Of
the war, too. Here are few:
Is. Fronce gove the Associoted
Stotes Of Wet Nam, Laos and
Combodio their independence.
This is a perennial French claim
which only now is coming true.
These states have had autonomy in
many of their internal affairs. But
even after the July, 1858. pro-
nouncement on independence" the
French still have maintained'a civil
commission as we'll as a military
commander -in-chief in Indo- China.
The real test of the Associated
States independence is this: Do they
have the right to secede from
the French Union? Represen-
tatives of France and Wet Nam ini-
tialed two treaties yesterday that
may imply the right to secede. Be-
cause Of past misleading statements
about independence for the Asso-
ciated States, the world will wait
to see how the two treaties work
out in practice. The first gives Wet
Nam its complete independence. pre-
Sumably including the right to Sc
cede from the French Union. The
second provides that Wet Nam Is
Joining the French Union voluntar-
lily on basis OF complete equality.
IA. This is an theological war be-
tween democracy and communism.
The people in Indo-China have
little interest in either theology. The
issue is French domination (now
fast fading) and the Wet Namese
are of one mind with the Wet Mini
on getting rid of it.
IS. Fronce speoks for Wet Nam,
Combodio and Laos.
While it is incorrect to say that
the associated states have long had
independence. it is also incorrect
to say that the French have COM
plete control over them. The Wet
NameSe, for instance, have resisted
forcefully any plan to partition
their country, and have threatened
to fight on-go it alone-rather
than accept an armistice built on
partition. Cambodia and Laos have
threatened to walk out of the
Geneva Conference if the allies per-
nit discussion Of any partition plan
for their countries, or recognition
of the phony Communist govern
mentS Of Khmer (Cambodia) and
Pathet Lao Naos). France no
longer can speak with assurance for
the three Associated States in inter-
national conferences.
Is. Associated Stotes ore reody for
independence.
Those who claim glibly that the
French should let the Associated
States shift for themselves i'm
mediately are dangerously close to
delivering these countries into the
hands of anarchy and/or COM
mun1sm. The Associated States are
not yet skilled enough to handle
all their own affairs. That is why
many United States Senators who
have been to Indo-China advocate
setting a date-five or 10 years of
when they can be left completely
on their own.
II. Free world will lose heavily If
lndo- Chino goes behind the Iron
Curtoin.
It is true that certain rice-def1-
cient countries in the Far East
would suffer if the ndo-China ex-
ports were cut off. But these losses
probably could be made up else
where in the free world. The main
value of Indo-China to the West
is in the food and raw materials
it withholds from the Soviet bloc.
l8. The United Stotes hos in some
way been Sinking its duty toword
the French and Wet Nomese,
Combodions and Lotions.
Every formal call for help which
the United States has received has
been answered, and generously. Up
until recently, the French wanted
to keep their war in Indo-China a
private affair. When their call for
help came, we were ready to take
joint action with our allies, but
Britain hung back.
Domino Theory
Another cause of confusion about
Indo-China has been the adminis-
trations varying Interpretation Of
the domino theory" This is the
concept, popularized by President
kAo% TxaLa Cka;~o rroom