Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-22
The Political Min
The Political Mill
Things Need Clarifying
Before Any Big-4 Talks
U. S. and British Divided
Too Sharply on China
By Gould Lincoln

1ue suggestion OF senator George,
widely respected chairman of the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee, that
1t would be advisable to hold a high
level conference, participated in by the
great nations who are vitality inter-
ested in world peace" will receive care
full and sympathetic consideration
by the Eisenhower administration,
which is anxious for world peace
but not at the price Of appeasement
or great concessions to Soviet Russia.
There are. however, a number Of
important matters that require clarifl-
cation before such conference. One
of the foremost is the attitude which
the British and the United States have
toward Red China. Up to the present,
there has been far too much disagree
ment between these two principal allies
Of the Western world. British spokes-
men have favored the admission of the
Chinese Communist government into
the United Nations. They have looked
coldly on the determination of the
United States to prevent the Chinese
Communists from making successful
attack on Formosa. particularly should
the United States undertake to defend
Quemoy and Matsu Islands in this
process. The United States Govern
ment, on the other hand, has been
adamant in its declination to agree
to the entry of Red China into the U. N.
So far as Formosa is concerned, this
country is determined it shall not fall
to Red China. Congress has given Presi-
dent Eisenhower authority to use the
armed forces of this country to defend
the island, now the home of the Chinese
Nationalist government. Also, the Presi-
dent has leeway to use the forces to
defend Quemoy and Matsu If attacked.
Unhappy Results Possible
Obviously, should the United States
enter into big Three" or big -Four"
conference, In which this country. Brit
ain and Soviet Russia would be par
Elephants, with Britain advocating one
course toward the Far East situation,
and with the United States advocating
an opposite course, the result might be
far from happy. Soviet Russia would
be in position to throw its weight around
in no uncertain manner. OF course,
Russia would go for the admission Of
Red China to the U. N. Also. it would
for Red China in connection with the
disposition of Formosa. So. until the
British and the Americans are able to
work together in the Far East, it seems
foolhardy for this country to enter into
such conference. 1t might find this
country and Great Britain at opposite
ends of the pole.
With the results Of the Yalta Con-
ference in early 1945 clearly in mind,
as result of the recent publication of
the Yalta Papers. the United States
would go into any conference with So
Wet Russia forewarned. Too often this
country has entered into international
conferences and, in the end, has found
itself making valuable concessions. To-
day the question will arise: Do we have
to buy peace with further large con-
cesSions to Russia? In 1945 Russia had
something to sell--its entry into the
war against Japan. Stain compelled the
late President Franklin d. Roosevelt
and Prime Minister Winston Churchill
to pay well for Russia's military support
In the japanese war-after Germany
most Of the troubles in the Far East
UOOdy oCCIl 1loiI Vic dlId dBICCLAASIlto
lived up to by the United States and
Britain but not by Soviet Russia. It
may be said that Russia has to SELL
to this country and to Britain-assur-
ance that Red China will not precipi-
tate third world war, by simply telling
the Chinese they will not have Russia's
support for war, either in men or mate
riel.
Soviet Proof Awaited
But here the all important question
arises: Will Soviet Russia live up to its
PROMISES That has been one of the
principal arguments against future con-
ferences with that country-that Rus
STA cannot be trusted. President Eisen-
hover has said repeatedly in the past
that this country was not closing the
door to conferences with Russia and
the other powers to guarantee peace.
But. he has added, Russia must give
some assurance it will abide by any
agreements that may be made. AS a
prerequisite, the President has said
Russia should give evidence of its good
intentions. He has suggested, for ex-
ample, that Russia should sign the
peace treaty with Austria.
Senator George has expressed his be-
lief the time has come when a con-
ference of the big nations could be
benef1cial-some time this year. He may
be right 1t is certain however, that
much spade work is in order before
the United States joins in.