Evening star., 1955-03-29
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
week or month when an attack
would take place.
He added that the fact that
the Chinese Reds have been
building up their military po-
tential in the Quemoy -Matsu
area does not justify any specific
prediction as to when an attack
might come. He emphasized
that he believes I'VE should be
alert to the potentials," however
It was also learned that the
administration feels all signs
point to a Big Four conference
of the United States, Russia,
France and Great Britain. Time,
place and form are unsettled,
but any meeting of the President
and other chiefs of state prob
ably would be preceded by a
meeting of Foreign Ministers.
The administration is aware
that the Red Chinese have con-
centrated troops opposite MatSu
But. its opinion is that without
the necessary air coverage the
Communists will have no chance
of landing in force on either
Matsu or Quemoy.
No effort is being made to de-
emphasize a serious situation in
FormoSa Straits, or to assert
that the danger of an attack does
not exist. But the adminiStra-
ton appears convinced that an
attack would not succeed and
therefore will not be attempted
Only One Road Available
Another reason advanced is
that there is only one road avail
able to bring supplies to the
coast. Furthermore, the terrain
is narrow and does not Offer
sites for large airfieldS.
| The Joint Chiefs of Staff dc
not hold the opinion that the
predicted attack on Matsu ano
Quemoy will be made soon. Also
the date set in the predictiorI
for major attack on Matsu is
approximately the date in which
the Communist Chinese are eX-
pected to go into the Asia Africa
Conference. 1t is Anot believed
the Reds desire to go into that
conference while waging an at
tack on MatSu.
U. S. Intervention Uncertain
Mr.. Eisenhower has not said
whether the United States will
intervene with armed forces il
| the Reds attack Matsu and
Quemoy islands. However, he
has been given authority by a
resolution of Congress to use
the armed forces to defend For
mosa against Communist attack
This authority includes the use
of American forces to help re-
pei any Red assault on the Pes
cadores and on related terri
tories, which has been held to
include Matsu and Quemoy.
The President has been pressed
to say definitely what he intends
to do should an attack be made
on Matsu and Quemoy. He has
declined, however. This leaves
him in a flexible position.
The one thing that stands out
is the fact that should Formosa
be invaded it will bring this
country Immediately into the
! conflict. This is provided for
in the treaty with the Chinese
Nationalist government on For
| mosa.
Questions on Key Issues
Here are some questions on key
issues facing the administration
with answers from an authorita-
tive source:
@. What are the odds on a Big
Four conference?
A. All the signs point toward
one-when and where is a ques-
ton. What form it may take is
another question still unsettled
| @. After Teheran, Potsdam
and Yalta. does the Eisenhower
administration see any possibili-
ties in another top-level confer
ence?
A. Yes, with conditions. This
means finding out first some evil
dences of good faith. The state
ment by Premier Bulganin indi-
Gated some difference in tone. II
| the Foreign Ministers in a pre-
liminary meeting could clear the
ground, that would help.
Top Session Still Possible
! @. If the Foreign Ministers
could not clear up all points
could there still be a meeting at
the top?
! A. 1t would depend upon the
questions left unsettled. Since
the death of Stain there have
n Dress Up for Easter!