Evening star., 1954-05-09

OAAUAo1A oA1O L E4CA4N11 SuppOIt Y AOA q
pre-Geneva announcement threat
ening united action" in Indo-
China. AS a matter of fact, leaks
of the Dulles plan came from
British and French sources.
The split between Britain and
France ION the one handD and the
United States Con the other) over
timing of united action had been
we'll publicized. But late last week
it became known that Mr.. Dulles
had, in fact, made considerable
progress toward his goal of inter-
nationalizing the Lndo-.C -.China war.
On British initiative, apparently
with a view to repairing allied dis
unity, there is now being set up in
Singapore a five-nation military
staff committee to talk over (a)
means of guaranteeing any Indo-
China settlement that may come
out of Geneva or (b) what to do
if the Geneva talks fail.
At British insiStence, only the
first of these topics is being publi-
cized or even admitted as a func-
ton of the committee. Mr.. Dulles
has been willing to settle for this,
but is well aware that the progress
of the negotiations at Geneva are
bound to have an effect on the
groups work. The five nations
which will participate in the talks
are Great Britain, France, the
United States, Australia and New
Zealand.
The number of participants
probably will be increased soon to
include Southeast Asian countries.
Which ones, apparently, is still
matter of discussion.
Frances asking price for cease
fire in ndo-China, one that it is
understood the United States and
Great Britain both back, seems
to be basically what it was last
March: Complete Red with
drawal from Laos. Cambodia,
and South Wet Nam; Red with
drawal to specified islands" in
Central Wet Nam; Wet Mini with
drawal from the Red River Delta
area, which would be surrounded
by a neutral zone. That would
leave the Reds with little more
than jungles and mountains in
Northwest and Central Wet Nam.
Of course, the Communists won't
buy at this price.
A Point to Hoggle On
How far the French are willing
to back off of this high demand
is not known. If they give more
than the United States thinks is
wise, there undoubtedly would be
a new drive for quick united ac-
ton, but it is questionable whether
resistance could be mustered in
time to be effective. There were
reports last week.. therefore, that
the United States was looking on
Wet Nam as a problem for the
French and Wet Namese, and that
plans for united action were based
on drawing a new line against
Communist aggression at the
frontiers of Laos and Cambodia.
1t is not likely, of course, that
the French and Wet Namese, left
to their own devices at Geneva,
will consent to unconditional sur
render to the Communists, or any,
thing near it. In fact, prospects
at the moment with the Laniel
government still in power) look
just as good for a deadlock as for
an armistice or a cease-flre. Nego-
tiations with the Reds are never
easy, and after the big Commu-
mist effort of the last two months,
their own asking price for truce
is bound to be atrociously high.
Serious Commitments
If the results at Geneva are
inconclusive, we have it on the
authority of Secretary Dulles that
the United States would be
gravely concerned" and might
have to make serious commit
mentS" in Indo-China. Free peo-
ples," said Mr.. Dulles, "will never
remain free unless they are willing
to fight for their vital interests"
Congress will be consulted before
the time to fight arrives, Mr..
Dulles added. And before the
President goes to Capitol Hill with
that grave request, it was implied
that France will have to clarity
some issues ii. e. wipe out the dis
fractions of colonialiSm) and our
other allies will have to come up
with "an adequate collective
effort"
There was no escaping the feel
ing, however, that the admins
tration was preparing the people
of the United States for active
intervention against Communist