davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27

Peace" as reporters put it. This is
a position without precedent In
world history, so far as can be as
certained.
The Soviet Union quickly dubbed
the appointment a propaganda
move, a cover for our intensified
ton" of the atomic arms race.
In Great Britain's House of Com
mons, Sir Winston Churchill told a
Labor member he planned no ap-
pointment of disarmament minis
ter in his cabinet. He preferred, he
said. to leave this field in the hands
of his Foreign Office, which tries to
promote disarmament through the
United Nations.
Disarmament VS.. Deterrent
There was also some question
about how disarmament would mesh
with the deterrent policy upon
which the United States and its
free world friends now rely.
The deterrent, today, seems to be
a rather more effective guarantee
against humiliation than disarma-
r1ent.
NThe rock on which all previous
disarmament negotiations with the
Soviet Union have broken UP is the
necessity for adequate inspection.
The Kremlin shrinks from any and
all prying. Disarmament, of course,
is an empty concept without effective
inspection.
But even if the Communists were
to allow United Nations teams to
roam the Soviet Unions vastness,
shopping where they liked, they
probably could not prevent the
Kremlin from caching a decisive
amount of plutonium if Moscow's
leaders wanted to hide it.
ChurchilIs Point
Here is how Sir Winston put it in
his celebrated March speech on the
hydrogen bomb:
1T is now the fact that a quantity
of plutonium-probably less than
would fill this box on the table, and
quite a safe thing to store-would
suffice to produce weapons which
would give indisputable world domi-
nation to any great power which was
the only one to have it.
There is no absolute defense
against the hydrogen bomb, nor is
any method in sight by which any
nation or country can be completely
guaranteed against the devastating
injury which even a score of them
might inf1ict on wide regions ,.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Formosu
Chiong Says He'll Defend
Coastal Isles With or
Without American Aid

Chang Kai-shek told an American
newsman last week that the Chinese
coastal islands his Nationalist Army
holds will be defended whether or
not the United States helps.
At about the same time in New
York, Secretary of State Dulles was
spreading ominous news: We may
have to go to war to preserve "the
blessings of liberty"
The United States, of course, is
firmly committed to help the Chi
nese Nationalist hold Formosa and
the Pescadores. Red China. on the
other hand. is just as firmly COM
mitted to wrest control of the areas
from Chang.
Up until last week the status of
the coastal islands still in Nation
alist hands-mainly Quemoy and
Matsu-had been completely be-
logged. Neither the Chinese Ma
tionalists nor the Americans had
made their intentions about de-
Tending them very clear.
Chang clarified his stand salts
factorily last week.
Not All Bridges Burned
He didn't burn all his bridges be-
hind him, however. He limited, ever
so gently. that he might have to
evacuate the offshore islands under
fire. Here is what he told Publisher
Roy Howard:
u am sure we cannot be de-
feated, but even on the improbable
chance we should be, our govern
ment could sustain a defeat on a
single front and maintain its mo-
rale and will to fight. But we might
not do so If we retreat without a
fight"
The United States still insists on
maintaining "aexibility" in its atti-
tude toward the offshore islands.
1t is an open secret that we really
would prefer a cease-fire in the
Formosa Strait. with Chang hold
ing Formosa and the Pescadores
and with the offshore islands going
to the Reds. But neither Chinese
party to the dispute will buy this
plan-and the United States has
never admitted openly to this view.
Morale Problem
Chiang's situation on Formosa, as
the generalissimo himself outlined
it, will be as good COR as bad) as
the morale of his fighting forces.
Most of the men are from the
mainland. They yearn to get back.
But it is not the ordinary foot SOL
der that gives Chang the greatest
cause for worry.
1t is his idle generals. There are
hundreds of them holed up in For
mosa. drawing full pay, growing
old. anxious to get back into the
power limelight before they die. De-
fections from few key admirals or
generals could rock Chang, perhaps
demoralize the Nationalist COM
pletely.
Unlike the ordinary soldiers. the
generals are reading the papers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Wet Nam

When Wet Nam was partitioned
at Geneva last summer, there were
many predictions that it would be
only a matter of time before the
Communist Wet Mini took over
the whole country.
Both the French. who were CIV
ing up their colonial empire there,
and the Wet Namese themselves
shared some of these doubts. The
French were apprehensive because
they did not think the Wet Namese
had either the conviction or the
administrative experience to handle
their own affairs. The Wet Namese
worried because they expected the
French to interfere. and thus scare
off the popular support it required.
France has now relinquished lJs
controls. But the Wet Namese gov
eminent still is at sea.
Free Wet Mans first requirement
is to establish a strong. representa-
tive government. Today it's cabi-
net is neither strong nor repre-
sentative.
Premier Ngo Dinh Diem hasn't
even the strength to convene a pro-
visional assembly, which would be
the first step toward establishing
duly elected, democratic govern
ment.
Bottle With Sects ....
Mr.. Diem spent all last week
fighting for his life against three
powerful politico-military religious
sects equipped with popes and
tanks) which threatened to blockade
his capital city Of Saigon unless he
gave them a bigger voice in policy.
Emperor Bao Dali strongly backed
Premier Diem.
These sects, the Hoa Hao, the
Gao Dali and the Binh Xuyen (pro-
nounced Hwah How, Cow Dye and
Bin Zoo-yen), had been allowed to
function unmolested under the
French. who in this case applied
the formula of divide and rule. The
sects military forces are not ex-
ceptionally strong. Premier Diem
has the military power to deal with
them. But he might not survive
the political shock If he were forced
to use the national army. French
troops are also standing by.
Mr.. Diem demands that the sects
do two things:
. Merge their armed forces into
the national military establishment.
. Give UP some Of their large land
holdings to the state. so that
refugees from North Wet Nam can
be settled there.
The sects don't want to do either.
Three Deodlines
The Premier has three headlines
staring him in the face:
. By today. the three sects have
told him he must give satisfactory
answer to their demands for more
representation in the government
or they will precipitate what would
amount to civil war within civil
war. (Viet Nam is already in a
state of civil war with the Wet
Mimi. although there is truce at
present.)
By planting time In May Mr..
Diem must settle the 700,000-odd
refugees from Communist North Wet
Nam on land now lying idle In South
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Review Of The Week ti-Russian Defenses Hardening

but influential Democrats on the
Senate Finance Committee indi-
Gated they also would refuse to
swallow the measure without fight.
A new area of dispute was opened.
Committee members demanded in
blunt terms that the Secretary Of
State explain just what the admin
istration was after in its participa-
ton in GATT-the General Agree
ment on Tariffs and Trade, an in
ternational group working on trade
policy.
Almost so nations have met in
GAIT conferences in attempts to
make world trade easier. Tariffs
have been the chief center of at
tention. The United States has
never signed any formal GAIT
treaties. but has worked with the
group.
Most GAIT countries want the
United States to cut tariffs. The
new reciprocal trade bill calls for
just such cuts. to be made at the dis
erection Of the President. The Sem
ators last week wanted to know II
approval Of the bill meant approval
OF agreements made through GAIT
or approval of GAIT itself.
Dulles Explanation
Secretary Dulles said the bill would
not constitute approval of GAIT,
but that authority under the bill
would permit the President to take
part in GAIT tariff -reduction agree
mentS.
Chairman Harry F. Byrd, DEM
ocrat. Of Virginia said his commit
tee would not approve the bill until
1t knew exactly what GAIT and the
administration were up to. Mr..
Dulles said he would send to the
Hill within 10 days suggested leg
islation formulating this country's
relations with GAIT.
Senator Byrd said 10 days would
be too slow and added that the adj
ministration did not seem to realize
the difficulty it was in on the trade
bill.
The President. meanwhile, plugged
his trade program in q speech, say
ing, UNLESS we make it possible,
through enlightened methods, for the
free world to trade more freely .
we are not going to win the
theological battle"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Federal Pay
Democrats Defy Veto
By Hiking Wage Level
Over Presidents Limit

Democrats kicked over the traces
again last week and voted to defy q
presidential veto threat. This time
the issue was Government pay.
(The previous major revolt was
on tax reduction. Democrats A.
nally gave in last week, in the
face of Republican solidarity and
veto threat, and permitted a
House-Senate conference group
to drop the tax cut amendment
President Eisenhower had recon-
mended per cent boost for postal
and civil service workers. But the
postal workers lobby is one of the
strongest on the Hill-the spokesman
for civil servants don't do so badly,
either-so an urge to be more gen.
erous swept through both parties.
The President indicated he would
hold still for as much as rs per
cent, but no more. Most Republic
cans were willing to stick with Mr..
Eisenhower, but the Democrats were
feeling their oats. They pushed for
10 per cent in both houses.
Floor Action
The House acted first last week.
The Post Office and Civil Service
Committee brought rs per cent
postal bill to the floor, but moved
that it be passed without amend
ment. Such a motion would need q
two-thirds vote to carry. It fell far
short, 100 to 800, when most DEM
ocratS and a healthy sprinkling Of
Republicans refused the gag That
left the bill back in committee, wait
ing for new strategy decision.
Then the Senate tried. A DEM
ocratic 10 per cent bill for postal
workers was called up. Republicans
moved to cut the increase to rs per
cent. They lost, So to Al. all Demo-
Gratis but three opposing the cut, all
Republicans but nine supporting it.
The Democratic victory then was
inevitable. Without much further
struggle the Senate approved the
final 10 per cent bill, u to 81. Then.
still bowling to the inevitable, the
Senate approved a similar 10 per
cent boost for civi. servants on voice
vote.
The Democrats seemed to have
enough strength to send 10 per cent
bills to the White House, but not
enough to override a veto. So the
President still could have the final
word.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Conventional Arms

Even If nuclear weapons are not
susceptible to an ironclad disarna-
ment treaty, of course, disarma-
ment in conventional weapons on
both sides might reduce the chances
for war. Unfortunately, however.
the Soviet Union has shown no in
clination whatsoever to give away
its supremacy in conventional arm
aments. The Communists have
proposed proportional reductions
half of ours for half of theirs-but
this would increase the Soviet
Unions advantage positively if not
relatively.
Last week Pravda outlined a
new" Soviet program for complete
world disarmament in one year. It
resembled a similar one proposed
last year in the U. N, and then
withdrawn. There were three main
provisions:
Q Within sir months, destroy all
nuclear weapons and other mass
destruction" weapons, along with a
SO per cent cut in conventional
arms.
o In the tollowing sir months.
destroy the other half Of the con-
ventional arms.
. Continuously, inspect to assure
compliance.
The first two points are pure
Stain: Destroy Americas nuclear
advantage first, then let the West
try to wrest the Soviet Unions con-
ventional weapons advantage away
from her.
Some KremIin Interest
The third point, however, indi-
Gated the Kremlin was at least
slightly more interested in arranging
an effective control system. indie
fatigable State Department tech
nicians set about exploring the pos
sibilities there.
The trouble is. as Sir Winston
pointed out, that effective control
today 10 practically impossible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27

tween the Communist and free
worlds.
And the evidences Of good faith
he wanted from Moscow need not
be confined to his examples, he said.
For instance, sincere approach to
his atoms-for-peace plan might be
enough evidence of change of
heart.
First, Lower Tolks
But he would not want to 60 into
meeting with the other heads Of
state cold" There ought to be a
preparatory conference at a lower
level first, he said.
Presumably he had in mind a Big
which could easily be convened under
United Nations sponsorship in San
Francisco next June. U. N. Secre-
tary General Dag Hammarskjold is
now sending out invitations to so
foreign ministers to convene there
from June 1925 to celebrate the
10th anniversary of the completion
of the United Nations Charter.
MIR. HammarSkjold has high hopes,
not entirely unfounded, that the Big
Four's foreign ministers will be on
hand for the festivities. It would
be an ideal time to lay the ground
work for the chiefs of state to meet.
President Eisenhower said Wednes-
day he would meet even without an
agenda, provided he was convinced
some real good could come of such
an affair. Senator Knowland, how
ever, worried openly that, without
very carefully prepared agenda, the
conference might fail and leave the
world in q worse state than if no
meeting had taken place.
Reds Reaction
Soviet Russia reacted favorably
yesterday. Marshal Bulganin an
nounced he approves Mr.. Eisen-
hower's ideas concerning Big Four
meeting IF there Is in view con-
ference which would contribute to
lessening of tension in international
relations"
A few days before, Moscow had
invited Austrian Chancellor Julius
Raab to come to the Kremlin for
new discussions about a peace
treaty. The Reds. of course, were
still long way from pulling out
of Austria and giving the country
its complete freedom.
Democratic Stroteey
Senator Georges call for a big
power conference was a slick politi-
cal move here at home, whatever
its foreign policy implications.
First, it diverted attention from
the Republicans rehashing of
Democratic administration mistakes
at Yalta 10 years ago.
Second, it concentrated the
peoples thinking on President Eisen-
hower's most difficult problem: How
to deal with the Communists.
Third, Senator Georges action
has voter appeal. Most Americans
like their European cousins-pre-
fer talk to war.
Fourth. the move gives the Demo-
Gratis something different. They are
striving to avoid participation in
completely monolithic foreign policy,
for which the Republicans would get
all the credit. while still avoiding
partisanship that might be damag-
ing to the national interest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Big Four
PorIey at the Summit
Is q PossibiIity-but
KnowIond Opposes 1t

Great Britain and France have
been eager for the United States to
join them in a top-level meeting
with the new Soviet leadership ever
since Stain died in March, 1858
But President Eisenhower has con-
sistently resisted their pressure.
The Soviet Union would have to
show by deeds, not words" that they
were sincerely expecting to make the
conference success, not merely
making propaganda, the President
said. In his April, 1858, speech out
lining the administrations new for
eign policy, Mr.. Eisenhower gave
some examples of deeds he would
consider proof of Soviet good faith:
A Korean truce, an end to the fight
ing in Indo-China, agreement on an
Austrian peace treaty, free elections
In East and West Germany.
AS Mr.. Eisenhower and his Secre-
tary of State John Foster Dulles
continued to resist London and Paris
pressures for meeting at the
summit" and as the Korean and
Wet Namese truces went into effect,
most people took the Presidents
examples of deeds to be four pre-
conditions for conference in which
he would participate.
= This impression was allowed to
stand until last week. .
Georges Plan
Senator Walter F. George of
Georgia, chief of the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee and the dean of
the Senate. proposed last Sunday
evening on q television program
that President Eisenhower meet
with Sir Winston Churchill, Frances
Premier Edgar Faure and the Krem-
Inns new Premier, Marshal Nikolai
Bulganin-or their SUCCESSORS
sometime this year. The only pre-
condition he mentioned was final
ratification of the Paris agreements.
The State Department reacted
favorably. But Senator William F.
Knowland, Republican minority
leader, and an advocate of tough
policy toward the Communists, came
out Of White House meeting de-
claring the President was opposed.
Reporters confessed they were
confused. On Wednesday Mr.. Eisen-
hover put them straight. Once
Western Europe voted Germany
firmly into its NATO alliance, he
said. 1t might be time to have an
other try ct reducing tensions be-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27

Wet Nam. II the refugees cannot
be given land on which to raise their
own food, they may starve next fall
UNLESS Uncle Sam steps in.
By nert July the Premier must
have brought enough order into his
chaotic government so he can rep
resent something resembling a CO.
hesive group in negotiations with
the Wet Mini on how to conduct
nationwide elections These are
called for in the Geneva truce
agreement, as a prelude to reunif1-
cation of the country. They must be
held before July, 1856, according to
the cease-fire agreement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
French and Germun
Action May Herald
Talks With Soviet

The precarious peace in Formosa
Strait took back seat to cold-war
developments on the other side of
the world last week. West Europe's
anti Communist defense finally
seemed to be hardening enough for
the United States to think Of ven
turing new round of negotiations
with the Soviet Union.
Frances upper house seemed
ready to ratify the Paris agree
ments. under which West Germany
could be rearmed within the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Heuss Signs
Germany completed its ratifica-
ton process when President Theo-
dor Heuss signed the bills previously
passed by the Bonn Legislature.
If the last French hurdle is
cleared as expected, few foresee any
other major bitches in making Ger
many the 18th member of NATO
and new participant in the seven
nation Western European Union.
in three or four years she should
have added IL divisions, 1,300-jet
tactical air force and Baltic navy
patrol to the NATO defense force.
Counting on the prospect for new
unity in the North Atlantic COM
munity, the United States is rapidly
revising its attitude toward negoti-
alton with the Kremlin. As soon
as all countries have ratified the
Paris agreements. it seems probable
that the Soviet Union, Britain,
France and the United States will
begin a new round Of talks designed
to ease world tensions.
Moscow first reacted with Its usual
suspicion. then seemed to scent
another spring peace offensive in
the air.
Peipine's Menace
How long the birds and the flow
ers will last, however, seems to de-
pend more on Peiping than on
Moscow. The Pentagon says Red
China will be ready to attack Ma
tionalist-held Matsu Island around
mid-April, the Quemoys about
mid-May.
Our military advisers are hoping
President Eisenhower will authorize
a wide-ranging. about assault on
the Communist mainland if he de-
cides to intervene on Chang Kali
shek's side. The President, however,
is still keeping his own counsel.
Atomic Display
Part of Americas war of nerves
against Red China was the spec
tacular display of atomic weapons
at the Nevada proving grounds.
On Wednesday ''satchel" charge,
placed underground like a land mine,
was set off. It sent a column of
radioactive dirt miles into the air.
Presumably similar charge or two
could be set in the sea approaches
to Matsu and Quemoy, blasting the
Chinese Communist invasion forces
literally out of the water.
On Friday the atomic circus took
to the air. Some 40 planes partici-
pated in an air-to-air guided missile
"dry-run," with conventional war
heads. A grid Of smoke-trails at
lower level was used to provide the
scientists with measurements. Spec
ulation from Las Vegas was that an
atomic guided missile which could
blast an entire enemy air fleet out
Of the air would soon be tested.
These goings on should give Pei
ping pause. But there is absolutely
no indication that they have.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Congress
Friendly Stock Herring
Peters Out; Unit Pouses
Before q Second Phuse

What had been billed as the first
public phase of the Senate's stock
market inquiry sputtered to an end
last week. The committee will now
pause to digest what it took in dur
ing the hearings. The second public
phase presumably will start in a
couple of weeks and will be an inten-
sive study of some of the angles
turned UP in the general inquiry.
There was some doubt, however,
whether the second set of public
hearings would be launched. Com
mittee members were losing enthu-
siasm-mostly for two reasons:
o Witnesses so far have added little
to the Senate's knowledge of the
current bull market.
. Persons who tinker with a rising
market can lose lot of friends.
. Last week was a good example
of how things have been going.
FoirIess' Prophecy
There were three principal wit
neSSeS.
BENJAMIN F. Fanless, chairman
of the board of United States Steel,
said the country is ION the threshold
of one of the greatest periods of
prosperity that this Nation has ever
SEEN"
Ralph II. Denanler, chairman of
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission, said nothing was wrong
with the stock market that change
in laws or regulations could cure.
And the perennial elder statesman,
Bernard M. Bdruch, said taxes
should be held high until "our de-
lenses are made secure and the
budget is balanced"
It was all interesting information,
but it did not explain why the stock
market rose So per cent in the past
Is months or whether the rise was
healthy one. 1t looked to COM
mittee members as though the boom
was based on a combination Of gen.
eral confidence in the future plus
an increasing amount of specula-
ton. But they were pretty sure of
that even before the 20 witnesses
began their four-week parade
through the Senate caucus room.
Theory Confirmed
Another tentative theory was also
confirmed. A probe of a rising mar
ket can be an unpopular thing.
The market fluctuated a good
deal, mostly downward, during the
study. Chairman j. William Full
bright. Democrat, of Arkansas was
criticized by some witnesses, by some
players Of the stock market and by
Republican colleague CHomer E.
Capehart of Indiana) for lousing
up good thing-the bull market.
They implied the probe was all a
dirty Democratic trick to discredit
the Republican administration.
Most witnesses and good many
men on Wall street, however, said
either that the investigation had
no effect on the market or that it
had a beneficial effect in that it
steadied what could have been an
out-of-control speculative rise.
Senator Fulbright himself said
last week that there apparently
were no major abuses" in the stock
market and that he doubted If new
legislation was necessary.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
Trade

The Presidents tariff-cutting bill
was in trouble last week. Most Re-
publicans have opposed 1t all along,