Evening star., 1954-11-28
13Americuns jailed
As Spies; KnowIond
Calls for Blockade

The basic difficulty about peace
full co-existence" can be summed up
in the words a frustrated and dis
gruntled Air Force lieutenant used
in describing the Korean war:
"We can't win. We can't lose. And
we can't quit"
This is an apt summary, too, OF
President EiSenhoWer's present for
eign policy. Scientists have warned
him that II we play to win we may
very well bring death to the whole
human race. OF course we don't
dare lose or quit, either, lest the
Russians doom the world to a fate
worse than death.
In q thinking democracy,
however, there is always somebody
around to insist loudly that we
really can win, or lose, or quit, while
a country like Red China golds
him on.
Two weeks ago it was Republican
Senator William F. Knowland, of
California. urging the Nation to play
to win. President Eisenhower re-
torted last Tuesday that his quest
for n,odus DiUendi would involve no
relaxation In vigilance. or reduction
In military strength. But he Stunned
any commitment to the kind Of belli-
costly that Mr.. Knowland seemed to
be seeking.
Red BristIe
Communist China, which is widely
Judged to fear o big war with the
United States, might have been ex-
pected to receive the Presidents
moderation with satisfaction. But
Gen. Eisenhower had hardly fln-
ished speaking Tuesday when the
Peiping radio launched new anti
American campaign.
The Reds boasted of having SEN
fenced 13 Americans to prison terms
ranging up to life for alleged espio-
mage, about as demonstrably ridicu-
lous charge as the germ warfare
accusations of 1878.
Next day Peiping radio claimed
the Communist government had
caught 230 American and Chinese
Nationalist agents since 1851 and
killed LOG of them.
Friday Communist raiding party
hit small Nationalist-hel coastal
island opposite Formosa, probably
to see what the nearby American
Navy would do about it. Chang
Kai-shek's defenders repulsed the
raid without our help.
The State Department released a
sizzling note of protest on Friday
afternoon. demanding the 13 hos
tages be released forthwith" The
message was as bitter as diplomatic
note can be. 1t even contained a
veiled threat, in it's reference to
Chinese Communist outrages
against American nationals which
the American people have borne with
restraint thus far"
1t was obvious that the men in
the State Department. in the Penta-
gon, and on Capitol Hill were wrest-
ling once more with their tempers.
Words inadequate
Senator Knowland wrestled with
his, too, but lost. Yesterday he fired
blast of his own. Mere words
seemed to him inadequate to punish
the Red Chinese.
He proposed that the United
States Navy clap a tight blockade
on Communist China if the 13 cap
tiVes are not released Immediately.
He said it would be nice to have the
United Nations or single allies help,
but that America should go it alone
If necessary.
Whatever punishments for the
Chinese Reds that were being con-
sidered, however, it was likely Gen.
EisenhoWer-one of the cooler heads
to occupy the Presidents chair
would insist on fitting them into the
broader can't-win, cant-lose, can't
quit strategy that the hydrogen
era seems to have forced upon him.