Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-24
Stop, Look and Listen

IL SILL is much TOO early Tor anything
but the most guarded kind of optimism
over the proposal made by Premier Chou
En-lai for negotiations between Red China
and the United States. The hard and Bit
ter lessons learned by the free world in
past dealings with the Communists, in
both Europe and Asia, should be warning
enough on that score. After all, to cite
the old maxim once again, the proof of the
pudding is in the eating thereof, and this
particular serving needs to be approached
with caution because it could we'll be
stuffed with lot Of ground glass;
Yet, with that said, the fact remains
that the news from the Asian-African con-
ference at Banding seems decidedly hope
full For Mr.. Chou, If his words may be
taken at face value, has announced-in eff
fect-that Peiping is ready to stage long
retreat from the policy line 1t has held so
uncompromisingly and so belligerently for
many months past. 1t is ready, that is,
to negotiate with our Government for the
purpose of relaxing tension in the Far
East" especially in the critical area of
Formosa. And Mr.. Chou, as If to give
emphasis to the striking character of this
development, has allowed himself to be
quoted as saying, II respect the political
and economic systems of the United States,
and China has no intention Of going to
war with the United States"
If words mean anything, here is
truly spectacular change of policy. Gone
now is Red China's old and frequently
repeated threat not only to seize the Off
shore Quemoy and Matsu Islands but also
to 'liberate" Formosa itself-by armed
force If necessary. Gone, too, Is the arro-
CANT VOW to do all this under any and
all circumstances-the VOW plainly and
contemptuously suggesting that Peiping
would never negotiate the issue with the
United States, but would instead teach
g lesson to that paper tiger" If it dared
to intervene with its power on the side
Of Chang Kai-shek. But Mr.. Chou has
suddenly begun to sing different tune.
Why? What has led him to indicate that
the Peiping regime may be willing, at long
last, to listen to reason?
The precise answer is anybody's guess.
Presumably the impressive anti ommu-
mist sentiment at Banding has had some.
CAlAllS w Wv WALL OAAC SAAoi6C. <a1Ao NOAi-
ceivably Red China-which in itself is an
extremely weak nation-has been told by
the men of the Kremlin not to count on
them for support If 1t gets embroiled in
war with the United States. But without
doubt, assuming that the Chou statement
really represents a genuinely significant
change in Peiping's attitude, the greatest
single factor in the situation has been our
Governments solemn and firm FOrmoSa
policy-a policy put in force, against the
counSels of timid minority, with power
full congressional support made virtually
unanimous under the leadership of Demo-
cratic Chairman George of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee.
This f1rmness must continue to govern
us in whatever dealings we now may have
with the Chinese Communists. Certainly,
If we are to negotiate with them, If they
actually are prepared to be reasonable, we
must make our bargaining as hard as
principle and reality demand. For Pei
ping, like Moscow, does not respect weak
ness or soft eagerness to buy peace at
almost any price, and if sound settle
ment is to be achieved, we must speak and
act, without wavering, from a position Of
strength.