Evening star., 1954-05-04
Where Do We Stand at Geneva?


If he can do so, Secretary Of State Dulles
who is scheduled to return here today from
Geneva-should clear up the confusing inter-
pretations that seem suddenly to have been put
upon American policy in relation to Indo-China
and the portentous problem of coping with the
threat of further Communist aggression in stra-
logically vital Southeast Asia. More particu-
larly-and again if he can do so-he should
explain to the people of our country the exact
nature of that policy and the reception ac-
corded it by the French and British govern
mentS.
Prior to his departure for Geneva, Mr.
Dulles, in number of statements fully sup
ported by President Eisenhower, repeated
earlier warnings that Chinese Red aggression
against Indo-China would have grave conse-
quences" that might lead to counterblows
against China itself. Further, proposing the
establishment Of a donation Pacif1c-Asian de-
fensive alliance comparable to the North At
lantic Treaty Organization, he called for prompt
united action" to stop the Communists from
making any additional advances in that part
of the world. Such program, he acknowledged
might involve serious risks, but risks "far less
than those that will face us few years from
now if we dare not be resolute today" Indeed
with Vice President Nixon voicing the same
idea with even stronger emphasis the Secretary
went so far as to suggest that our Government
considered the issues at stake to be SO great
that certain circumstances could conceivably
impel 1t to go 1t alone-wth major military
force, possibly including ground troops-to save
1ndo- China from being dragged behind the Iron
Curtain.
But within recent days. especially since the
opening of the Geneva Conference week ago.
this seemingly firm policy has been embroi-
dered with SO many "ifs," butts" and "maybes'
that it has caused an immense amount of
befuddlement and led to the strong suspicion
right or wrong-that it is nothing but
bluff At any rate such developments as these
have made it look rather toothleSs: CD Al
though France and Britain have supported the
idea in principle, they have declined to act at
this stage on a Pacifc-Asian NATO; (2) the
French with their forces in desperate plight
at Dien Bien Phu, have been rebuffed in appeal
ing for immediate air support from us; 90 in
rejecting that appeal Mr.. Dulles has declared
that American intervention would be likely to
have the backing of Congress only If the
British committed themselves to join with us in
united action; az the Churchill government
has decided not to make a commitment of that
kind until every possibility for a negotiated
peace has been explored; and 50 President
Eisenhower, together with influential Senators
and Representatives, has knocked down the
idea that our Government might resort to di-
rect military moves in Indo- -China-on go-it-
alone or any other basis-without explicit con-
gresSional sanction.
AS a result of all this, there has been flood
OF depressing and alarming news dispatches
from Geneva describing the Western Big Three
as seriously divided, with the United States
holding fast and alone to an unclear, blow
hot-blow-cold policy. In fact, according to
some of the grimmer stories, our own and
allied diplomacy, because it is at odds with it
self, is in imminent danger of suffering
a disastrous defeat-a defeat that could have
shattering impact not only on our position in
Asia but also on NATO in Europe. Certainly,
whether exaggerated or not, these stories have
been unqualified and voluminous enough to
leave the American people deeply confused and
worried, and for that reason nothing could
seem more timely or desirable than a report
from Mr.. Dulles clarifying the whole situation
and where our Nation stands in it.