Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-09
The Political Mill
The Political Min
Major U. S. Problem
Is Quemoy and Motsu
Chione Could Repulse
Only q Limited Attack
BY GOULD LINCOLN

A major problem which confronts
this country is the ultimate purpose OF
the Chinese Communists II and when
they attack the Matsu and Quemoy
islands Until the character Of such an
attack develops-provided 1t is made
a decision by President Eisenhower
whether the United States forces will
participate in the defense Of these
islands is not now expected.
An attack on these islands, II 1t Is
not made in major and overwhelming
force, may be handled by the Chinese
Nationalist air and ground forces. In
those circumstances. there would be no
necessity for the United States to Join
in the defense of Matsu and Quemoy.
On the other hand, should the COM
munist attack be in overwhelming force.
the reverse would be true, especially in
view of the repeated assertions by the
Communists they intend to take For
mosa. This country Is committed by
treaty to go to the aid Of the Chinese
Nationalist il Formosa Is attacked by
the Reds. Furthermore, Congress BY
resolution has authorized the President
to use American armed forces to defend
Formosa.
Kefauver Disputed.
Vice President Nixon, in a speech de-
livered recently in Cleveland, Ohio took
occasion to refute statements by Sena-
tor Kefauver of Tennessee and other
Democrats that war party exists in
this country He said. II know Of no
one in the House or Senate-Democrat
or Republican-no one in the admins
tration, no one of our top military
leaders, who wants war; In the same
address, the Vice President said. 1.-THE
guiding principle of our policy is peace
without surrender. History shows that
in dealing with dictators, policy Of
weakness and concessions may bring o
temporary truce in the short run. But
in the long run such policy leads to
war"
Without naming Matsu and Quemoy
islands, Mr.. Nixon pointed out there
are some in this country who have
suggested it would be wise for the
United States to announce at this time
that certain named areas" would not
be defended by us if attacked. OBJ
viously he had reference to these
islands And the Vice President added
that apparently these persons believe
such announcement would avoid war.
A study of history. he said. casts grave
doubt on this contention.
History" said the Vice President.
"shows that surrender of territory in
itself never satisfies an aggressor; it
only increases his appetite. The pos
sibility that surrender of territory de-
manded by an aggressor might remove
the chance for war over that territory
how. must be weighed against the
effect such action would have in in
creasing the chance for a bigger war
later. This is the difficult decision
which confronts the President, a deci-
sion which he correctly insists can be
made only when We see the nature OF
the attack
One Way to Peace
The only sure way to eliminate all
chance of war is to surrender to
dictator. That of course. the Essen
hover dministration-and the Demo-
crats-have no intention of doing, now
or any time. Indeed. the reason we
are so we'll placed today-and the rest
OF the free worlds that a Demo-
cratic President. Mr.. Truman, was will
ing and had the courage to make de-
cisions and to take steps that halted
the Communists both in Europe and
in Asia. He did not hesitate to ask
and obtain from Congress aid for
Greece when it was in danger of being
taken over by Communists. At the
same time, he asked and obtained aid
for Turkey, to make it stronger against
possible Communist aggression. He adj
vocated the Marshall Plan which
helped to put Western European ma
tons on their feet economically. He
favored the creation of NATO which
has put Western Europe in a position
of defense militarily. And when the
Communists attacked Korea, he did not
hesitate to go to its defense.
Mr.. Truman had wholehearted Re-
publican support when he took these
actions. He did not appease the Com
munists, and he had Republicans as
well as Democrats to back him up. MIR.
Eisenhower is in no appeasing frame
Of mind. He has Democratic support
as well as Republican. The country 10
fortunate.