Milford chronicle., 1954-08-27


grave risk in any such adven-
ture. He told the Red Chinese
that if they set out to take For
mosa they would have to run
over the u. S. Seventh Fleet.
That could touch off the big war
the Chinese dread at this juno
ture.
Trade Bait
But London's attitude toward
the future Of Formosa could
have much to do with normal
izing relations with Peiping.
When Red Chinese Premier
Chou En-lai raised a glass in
Peiping during the week in hon
or OF "Her Majesty, Queen Eliz-
.abeth," the bait dangling before
the British was powerful. Be-
fore the British Labor Party
delegation in China-and before
many a British businessman
back home-lay the prospect Of
trade with a market encompass
ing half billion people, a mar
ket which could make British
mills and factories hum for
some time to come. To tile Brit
Iish, such a prospect might be
worth a Co existence" gamble,
In the Vest
Moscow followed up the Cen
eva parley with a proposal for
a meeting of the four big powers
on Pan-European security, sug-
gesting the talks be held quick
ly. That obviously was calcu-
lated to interfere with any
French action on ratification of
the European Defense Com
munity (EDC) treaty. II had
an immediate effect.
French Monkey Wrench
French Premier Mendes-
France tossed his own special
brand of wrench into EDO by
coming up with a set of pro-
posals aimed at cutting the
heart out of the community de-
lfense idea which the French
themselves originated. On top
of that, Mendes-Fr France sug-
= gested the Russian proposals for
, European security talks be seri-
oulsy explored-in advance of
D EDO ratification.
! The immediate result was a
! new crisis for Western defense
community nations, and partic-
ularly for West Germany. An
f other result was spreading dis
may in London, Washington and
D West European capitals at fad
+ ing prospects for EDO in the
! form in which it was originally
D conceived. France was the key
stone Of that conception. Still
another result was a revival ns
Interest in the Russian proposA'
2 for more talks.
t Moscow has reminded France
: repeatedly that EDO ratification
: would spoil the chances of a
7 German settlement, ruling out
q any European security arrange
0 ment in which Moscow could
e join. The Russians indicated that
e lif France would avoid edo, she
e could look ahead to a lasting
h lpeace in which she could pur-
: sue her national interests, free
of worry about an armed Ger
n many and without yielding any
r Of her precious sovereignty.
Little Red Riding Hood
When Little Red Riding Hood
q took a look at the wolf and ex.
: claimed: ooh, Grandma, what
h big teeth you havep she didn'f
lock the door against her pro.
4 tecting woodsman. France anC
a Europe know that under the de-
ceptive Mother Hubbard car
, donned by Moscow, there are
long, sharp teeth. But they Rr,
being asked in effect to loci
their door against American
protection. That would be tai
eventual price for any European
security arrangement with thr
Russians.
The Communists are dangling
bait on both sides Of the world
But even if their intended vic
tins can see the points Of thl
hooks, they must ask themselve
at the same time: What alter
natives does the United State
offer2