Evening star., 1954-05-09
HCon Be Saved


sents an event full of very serious political and
propaganda implications for France and the
free world as whole, it's military significance
is altogether limited and non-decisive 1t does
not mean that the road is now open to the
Communists for the easy conquest of all of
Indo-China. Nor does it mean, beyond that,
that the vast region of Southeast Asia is on the
verge of being dragged behind the Iron Curtain.
On the contrary, as Secretary of State
Dulles has just declared in his report to the
Nation, great causes have often been won out
of lost battles of this Sort That is to say,
Diem Bien Phu-like Dunkirk or Bataan in the
Second World War-can lead to ultimate victory
over the MoScow-Peiping axis if our allied side
acts without delay to counter the long-range
danger before It, In any event, as matters
stand, by far the larger part of Indo-China
still remains in the hands of the French Union
and the Associated States of Wet Nam, Laos
and Cambodia, and it is not mere wishfulnesS
to believe that If resolute security measures are
taken now by all the free nations principally
concerned Southeast Asia can be saved
from Communist subversion, aggression and
absorption.
To that end, Mr.. Dulles has made clear
that our Government-although present con-
ditions do not provide suitable basis" for its
armed intervention In Indo- China-Stands
ready to carry through with its proposal for
a Pacifc-Asian defensive alliance comparable
to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization The
alliance which would be set up within the
framework of the United Nations and which
would be flexible enough for further enlarge
ment, would embrace at the start the ten
countries Immediately affected by events in that
strategically vital part of the world the ten
being the United States, Britain, France, New
rI,o tIox,
and Laos Cambodia and Wet Nam. Among
other things, wholly apart from its function
as a security bulwark against Red aggression,
the enterprise would be so ordered as to help,
not hinder, the Far Eastern peoples to enjoy
true freedom and independence.
In advocating this Pacifc-Asian NATO-
which has been formally Endorsed by France and
Britain-Mr. Dulles has been at pains to en-
phaSize President EiSenhoWer'S repeated deca-
rationS to the effect Cd that he will not order
direct American military intervention in Indo-
China without the explicit backing of Congress
and (2l that he will not seek that backing
unless he is convinced that such action is
necessary and that there would be an adequate
collective effort based on genuine mutually of
purpose" In other words, given hard-and-faSt
inter allied pledges of support the United States
will be prepared to undertake a major share
OF Whatever measures may De necessary 10 stop
further Communist advances in Southeast Asia.
Of course, as Mr. Dulles has said, This may
involve serious commitments by us ALL But free
people will never remain free unless they are
willing to fight for their vital interests"
Perhaps he is optimistic, but Mr.. Dulles
believes that the projected Far Eastern alliance,
although it faces many great negotiating diff
cuties, can be worked out and that good
progress" is already being made in that direc-
ton. Further, in the light Of that progress,
he feels confident that the outcome will be
such that Communist aggression will not be able
to gain in Southeast Asia the results it seeks"s
Certainly although there are many exceedingly
big "ifs' involved, it would be defeatism of the
worst kind to suppose that this crucial region,
assuming that the free nations act unwaver-
ingly and on time to defend it, cannot be
rescued from engulfment by the Red tide.