The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-05-27
French 70 Delay Asking US.
Aid While Conference Lasts
By JOHN M. HIcHTowER

WASHINGTON R-French diplo-
mats said today France viii delay
asking us. intervention in the
Indochina war so long as cease
fire talks continue at Geneva.
Rep. Javits (R-Lib-NY), leaving
open the question Of American in
PREVENTION, said he is convinced
that vigorous and swift action
could save Southeast Asia,
Javits is a member Of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, which
yesterday heard Adm. Arthur w.
Radford, chairman Of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, outline the Asian
military situation in a three-hour
secret briefing.
Committee members were reluc-
tant to discuss Radford's testi-
mony. Some said it encouraged
them.
Javits declined also to comment
on the meeting but said he was
convinced that an. American for
eign policy Of initiative and vigor,
based on a regional organization,
can save Southeast Asia and South
Asia (India and Pakistan)."
He added, in an interview, eve
have got tn get on our horse and
do. it."
Meanwhile, Britain was reported
to have proposed that prospective
military talks on Southeast Asia
among the Western Big Three, Aus
tralia and New Zealand should be
held at the highest military level
that is, among the chiefs of staff
Of the five countries.
Military representatives of Brit
ain, France, the United States and
the two southwest Pacific nations
are expected to meet here within
the next two weeks. What they can
accomplish in the absence of over
all political decisions, however, is
unclear. Obviously they can dis
cuss forces available for taking
action if their governments decide
on action.
One key to such a decision, per-
haps now the most important one,
is a proposition from the French
government for US. Intervention.
The American government has
told the French governments IN
talks at Paris that such a proposal
would be necessary as a basis for
future American decisions, bearing
in mind that this country would
act only as one member Of. a
coalition.
Secretary Of State Dulles told
a news conference Tuesday that no
such bid had yet come from the
French. French diplomats here say
no bid is to be expected until
events at Geneva take decisive
turn one way or another. Their
estimate, like that of officials at
Paris, is that a showdown with
the Communists in the Geneva
negotiations may be counted on
within the next 10 days.
American authorities evidently
hope that the, situation may be
resolved that quickly. But private
ly they point out that Communist
negotiators are in position to drag
out the negotiations with new
moves from time to time if that
is their purpose.
American officials are convinced
that the French government would
rather have some kind of cease
fire agreement at Geneva than
initiate any move which would
lead to intervention by the United
States and its allies which would
fullysi nternationalize the Indochina
war.
Congressional sources said, |
meanwhile. they have reason to
believe the French soon will re-
move Gen. Henri Navarro as COM
mander in Indochina.
The informants, who declined to
be quoted by name, said his most
probable successor is Gen. Rene
Cogny, commander Of the northern
forces in IndOchina.