Evening star., 1955-02-12
By the Associated Press

~ NV NSsShta'Se tAeSS
Faint official hopes for a cease
fire between Communist and Ma
tionalist China were encouraged
today by the fact that the Red
Chinese refrained from aking
trouble during evacuation Of the
Tachen Islands.
State Department experts said
it would be unwise to read too
much significance into the Com
munist conduct, however, since
the Reds by their inaction stood
to gain possession Of the Islands
without firing a shot in assault
The State Department an
nounced last night that the
Tachens operation had been
completed, but said United
States forces assigned to it
would continue to "be alert to
any concentration or employ
ment of Chinese Communist
forces" preparing for an at
tack on Formosa, the National
ist Chinese stronghold.
Busy Week for Fleet.
The powerful 7th Fleet, under
orders to provoke no incidents
but to meet force with force,
has been busy for the last week
helping with evacuation of Ma
tionalist civilians and military
forces from the Tachen Islands.
about 200 miles north of For
mosa.
What had been feared most
here was that the Reds. respite
the risks involved. might try to
make a limited show Of force
to embarrass the United States
with loss of ships or planes or
personnel.
The fact they did not do so
tended to harden the beliefs Of
those who contend the Com
munist powers do not want war
with the United States and they
will back down when confronted
with a real show of force.
How much bearing this has on
China's future conduct is specu-
lative. But it has led some Off
cials to strengthen their belief
that sooner or later the Commu-
nists will accept as beyond ques-
ton the Chinese Nationalist con-
troll of Formosa and will concen-
trate their efforts to obtain the
Nationalist-held coastal islands
through peaceful diplomacy.
Gain Tachens without Cost.
Chairman George, Democrat,
of Georgia and Senators Know
land, Republican, Of California
and Mansfield, Democrat. Of
Montana of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee said in in
terviews. however, they saw no
change in long g-range Communist
goals. Senators George and
Mansfield said the unchallenged
evacuation meant only that the
Reds wanted to take over, the
Tachens without cost.
A tempest Of words at the
Capitol subsidized, meanwhile,
after Chinese Nationalist Foreign
Minister George Yeh backed
away from any claim that the
United States is pledged specif1-
cally to defend Quemoy and the
Matsus.
Remarks Mr.. Yeh made yes
terday, after a call on Secretary
of State Dulles, were interpreted
as a hint that he had obtained
a United States commitment to
defend Quemoy. the Matsus and
other of shore islands now occu-
pied by Chang Kai-shek's Ma
tionalists.
Newsmen understood him to
say that a United States pledge
to protect positions deemed
necessary for the defense Of
Formosa "of course includes
Quemoy and the Matsus."
Senator Morse, Independent,
of Oregon told the Senate he
did not believe Mr.. Yeh, He
said Mr.. Yeh fought to be re-
pudiated" If his remarks turned
out to be false.
But the Foreign Minister, about
to GO home to Formosa, told
reporters today he never in
tended to leave the impression,
when questioned by newsmen
yesterday, that he had a pledge
Decision Up to U. S.
The United States. he said
today in clarification, will de-
eide whether the OF shore
islands are to be treated as