Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-13
Weeks Review: Indo- China, Eisenhower Program
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munist military coalition has
been the principal target Of
Kremlin demolition squads
since the idea was first
preached by France in 1919.
The future Of Indo- China.
too. is wrapped UP in the choice
Of o new French cabinet, Of
course. The candidate for
premier whom United States
policymakers fear most is
Pierre Mendes-France, long
considered an advocate Of
Indo- China peace at any price.
His remarks In the National
Assembly debate last Wednes-
day could be read in two ways.
He made q sizzling political
attack on the Laniel govern
ment, advocated thorough re-
vision of French policy recog-
nizing the limitations Of
French strength, excoriated M.
Bidault for planning massive
intervention by the United
States "at the risk Of bringing
Communist China in and start
ing q general war" and
charged that France had made
promises to the United States
It could not keep.
But he repeatedly insisted
that France need not accept
capitulAtion. No doubt M.
Mendes-France's definition OF
capitulation b different than
M. Bidault's, and even more
at variance with the United
States. M. Mendes-France
probably would agree. how
ever. that withdrawal OF
the French expeditionary
force from do-China would
be capitulation.
It Is likely then that the
worst to be expected from a
Mendes-France regime would
be some agreement on parti-
ton. Most partition plans that
give the Reds any more than
O corner of mountain and
Jungle in Northwestern Wet
Nam are strongly opposed by
the Wet NameSe themselves,
as well as the United States.
Partition?
But it is quite doubtful that
the high-riding Communists
would settle for any kind Of
partition. They seem bent on
trying to take all of Wet Nam
by force. Gen. Henri-Eugene
Navarro, relieved last week as
French commander in Indo-
China, increased their self-eS-
TEEN when he admitted just
after the fall of Diem Bien Phu
that he would need outside
help to carry on.
Even M. Mendes-France,
then, might find 1t hard to
come to terms with the Reds
at this point. Another factor
working against any Mendes-
France plan for q quick peace
probably would be the SOLDERING
effect Of taking over govern
ment responsibilities. Amer
lean officials depressed with
the prospect Of having to work
with Q weak" French govern
ment recall their pleasant
surprise when the British La
Dor party came to power in
July 1945. Highly critical OF
American policy while out Of
ONCE, the Lahorites were COM
paratively sweet and reason
able after they formed q cabi-
net.
M. Mendes-France, Of
course. Is by no means q sure
bet for the premiership. Edgar
Faure, former Premier and
now Minister of Finance and
Economics. is said to be ready
to step in with a cabinet which
would not be too far different
from the one now in power.
M. Bidault probably would
have to leave the Foreign Min
.iStry. But it is not inconceiv-
able that France, as she has
done so. many times in the
past, would be satisfied merely
to change faces while national
policies are allowed to remain
substantially the same.
Probably the most difficult
period lies Immediately ahead,
while the new cabinet is being
formed. # the Wet Mimi
achieve o breakthrough in
Indo-C China while France is
rudderless, the free world will
find 1t hard to wangle an in
vitation to come to the rescue,
even II 1t wants one.
The Allies