Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-15

today opened the showdown
phase of negotiations with the
Communists aimed at ending
the Indo-China war.
French Premier Pierre Mendes-
Wet Mini Troops Capture Two Posts os
Monsoon Hits DeIto. Poee A
Reynoud Sees Fronce Isolated on De-
Tense Problem. Pose A
Paris Tolks improved Allied Unity on
Asio. Dulles Says on Arrival. Pose A-3
France and British Foreign Sec
rotary Anthony Eden repeatedly
feel the Eisenhower admlnistra-
TONS decision to resume a major
role in the Geneva talks has
boosted chances of getting an
Indo-China cease-fire before
July 20. Mr.. Mendes-France has
promised to resign if he fails to
get a peace agreement by that
date.
The French and British lead
erS flew back here yesterday
after quick meeting in Paris
with Secretary of State Dulles
which produced the United
States decision to send Under
secretary of State Walter Bedell
Smith back to the Geneva talks
on Friday.
Partition Likely.
France and Britain appeared
agreed on trying to negotiate q
truce by dividing Wet Nam,
largest Of the three Indo-C China
states and main war arena, be-
tween the Communicated Wet
Mimi and French Union forces.
Mr.. Dulles has frowned on
such partition plan. He and
Gen. Smith had stayed away
from Geneva to avoid associating
the United States with a settle
ment giving the Communists
domination of important North
ern Indo- China areas, possibly
including the City of Hanoi.
There was no confirmation
that Mr.. Dulles, as a result OF
his Paris talks with Mr.. Mendes-
France and Mr.. Eden, liked the
idea Of an Indo- China partition
any better.
But it was believed the three
Western allies now are much
nearer some kind of under
standing which will allow them
to display a more united front
when full negotiations resume
with Russia's v. M. Molotov and
Red China's Chou En-lai.
Would Hold Al0Of.
Informants said under one
formula being studied by the
Western allies, the United States
would stand aside without Civ
ing moral approval to the parti-
ton scheme.
But America would join Brit
ain and France in providing
some kind of guarantees to sup
port and protect the southern
part of Wet Nam, which would
remain under French-sponsored
Chief of State Bao Dali. They
would provide similar guarantees
for the other two pro-French
Indo- Chinese states, Cambodia
and Laos.
Gen. Smith is expected to ar
rive here from Washington Sat-
urday and a formal session Of
the nine-party conference pre-
sumably will be called soon after.
MIR. Dulles refused to return here
himself, flying back to Washing
ton.
Confers With MOIOtov.
Mr.. Eden conferred with Mr..
Molotov last night and got him
to agree to continue private
huddles between delegation heads
until Gen. Smith gets here.
Mr.. Eden repeatedly told Mr..
Molotov that the peace talks
could be picked up exactly where
they stood when the two West
ern statesmen flew of Tuesday
to meet Mr.. Dulles.
Mr.. Molotov took a dark view
of the Paris parley and Moscow
Radio charged Mr.. Dulles staged
it with the aim of blocking
any Indo- China settlement.
Mr.. Chou was openly resentful
about the Paris talk, too, but
went out of his way last night
to generate feeling of optim-
ism that an Indo-C China ceasefire
is in the cards.
The Red Chinese leader called
at the headquarters of the Cam
bodian delegation and spent an
amiable hour talking over peace
prospects.