Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-07
Eisenhower Says
Indo-China Must
Be Saved From Reds
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must consider the specific value
of the locality and its production
Of materials which the free
world needs. He named tin and
tungsten.
He said there also is the pos
sibility Indo- China would come
under a dictatorship inimicable
to Americas interest. He cited
the millions of AsianS who already
have come under Communist
domination. He said we simply
can't afford greater losses.
The broader consideration and
the multiple disadvantages which
the free world must consider, he
said, are illustrated by the
principle of falling dominos.
He said we really are talking
about the fate of millions and
millions and millions of people.
Communist conquest of the
area. he said. would endauger
the island defensive chain of
Japan. Formosa and the Philip
pines and threaten Australia
and New Zealand.
The Communists. he con-
tinued, would take away an area
which Japan needs to trade with
if she is to live.
Reminded of Dulles Remarks.
The President was reminded
Of Secretary Dulles statement
to the House Foreign At
fairs Committee Monday that
Communist China is close to ag-
erosion in Indo-China. Gen.
Eisenhower was asked what the
United States reaction would be
If such an aggression came.
Here is a place, Gen. Eisen-
hover replied, that is of the
utmost moment to the free
world. More attention is given
to it daily than almost anything
but he cannot tell exactly what
the United States reaction would
be.
Asked if there was conflict
between his statements and
those of Secretary Dulles, Gen.
Eisenhower said he had pleaded
with Americans not to minimize
the possibilities of the situation.
He said we would be completely
foolish not to see what the facts
are. He said Secretary Dulles
had discussed with him in ad-
vance every one OF his important
declarations on foreign. policy.
The President said it was too
soon to get reaction to the
administration campaign for
united action" among the allies
to the Red danger in Southeast
Asia. Part of the united action"
sought by the State Department
is joint warning to Communist
China.
Chances for Peace.
Asked about the possibility of
negotiating an Indo-China peace
during the Far Eastern confer
ence starting in Geneva April 26.
Gen. Eisenhower said he wouldn't
class the chances as good.
He volunteered that he was
certain that the United States
Congress and the executive are
ready to move just as far as
prudence will allow to seek any
negotiated agreement. But we
are not going to overStep the
line of prudence, he said, and
have agreements that have no
way of being enforced.
The Presidents comment on
the Indo-China situation came
in the wake of Democratic de-
mands for a clearer statement
of American policy.
The Democrats were not crit
ical of the administration for
trying to save Southeast Asia
from Communist domination
But in Senate debate yesterday
they argued Congress should
know more about the admins
STATIONS plans so that it can
take a strong bipartisan stand
to back them up.
Senator Kennedy, Democrat,
of Massachusetts, who at SO is
one of the youngest men in the
Senate, touched Off the debate.
His older colleagues listened in
tently as he pleaded for the
French to give the people of
Indo-China complete independ-
ence as an essential step in any
successful resistance to the Com
muniSt advance.
A Word of Advice.
Senator Kennedy said that if
the French persist in their re-
fuSal to grant independence,
Secretary Dulles should recognize
the futility of channeling Ameri-
can men ana machines into a
hopeless struggle in Indo-China.
Senator jackson. Democrat,
of Washington said President
Eisenhower should go before
Congress land outline what our
policy is going to be so that both
parties can get behind it.
Senator DirkSen. Republican,
of Illinois challenged the need
for such a step at this time. He
said there will be no reluctance
on the Presidents part to go to
Congress when a statement of
policy becomes necessary.
Senator DirkSen also disagreed
with those who think the
United States may soon be send
ing troops to Indo-China, other
than airplane mechanics. The
Illinois Senator said Indo-China
is only twice the size of Illinois
and he does not see how more
troops could be maneuvered if
they were sent.
Kennedy Praised.