Evening star., 1955-01-30
U. S. Acts
Eisenhower Urges, Congress
Grunts Program for Action
In Asia If All Else FuiIs

Mr.. Eisenhower sent two docu-
ments to Capitol Hill Monday. One
was special message explaining In
detail what he wanted and why.
The other was q draft resolution
showing the kind Of backing he
wanted from the House and Senate.
The lower House acted within ~
hours, after less than three hours
debate. The upper House was until
Friday deciding. following It's tradi-
tion Of taking a longer look at such
matters.
Mr.. Eisenhower's message. read
by clerks In both houses, made four
principal points:
/. This country's purpose Is peace
ful He asked several times that the
United Nations undertake to arrange
a cease-fire, limiting that American
interest in the offshore islands
would wane If the shooting were
stopped.
2. The United States wiH fight. II
necessary, to keep Formosa and
the Pescadores out Of Red Chinese
hands.
3. The United States must shosp
the Dorld it Is united on its Formosa
policy.
4. The United States Intentions
must be clarified. so that Red China
win not precipitate war on q
miscalculation of our determination.
Action Outlined
Three paragraphs spelled out
short of giving Red China's generals
any advantageous tips-the mill
tary action Mr.. Eisenhower is pre-
pared to take:
The octions that the United States mast
be reody to undertake are Of yorious kinds.
For exomple, we must be ready to assist
the Republic Of Chino TO redeploy ohd
consolidate its forces il il should 50 desire.
Some Of these forces are scattered
throuahout the smoller oFfshore islnnds os
result Of historical tethsf than military
reasons directly reloted to defending
Fosmosa. Because Of the Dir situotion il
the area, Withdrawals for the purpose OF
redeployment Of Chinese Nationalist
forces would be improeticol without as
sistonee Of the armed forces Of the United
States
MofeosSt, we must be alert TO any
concentration or employment Of Chinese
Communist forces obviously undertoken
TO focilitote ottuck upon formoso. ond be
prepored to take appropriate military
action.
do NOT suggest thot the United Stctes
enloroe its defensive obligations beyond
Formoso and the Pescodores as provided
by the treaty now awaiting' ratification.
But unhoppily the danger Of ormed qftock
directed aaainst thot oreo compels Us to
tuke into aceount closely reloted localities
and octons which, under current eondi-
tions, might determine the foilure or the
success Of such an ottoek. The authority
that may be accorded by the Congress
would be used only in situotions which are
recognizable as parts of. or definite pre-
lirninories to, on otfoek against the moin
positions Of Fosmoso ond the Peseodores.
Many observers pointed out that
! America has no legal basis for de-
tending the offshore islands, always
considered a part of mainland
China. Sovereignty over Formosa
and the Pescadores, on the other
hand, is undetermined, and the
United States retains voice there
by virtue of its part in taking the
area away from Japan after World
War II.
HoIifieIds Blast
The resolution was SO sweeping
that one House Democrat, Chet
Holifeld OF California. called 1t
contingency declaration of war"
Senator Wayne Morse Of Oregon
charged it would permit the Presi-
dent to wage preventive war. Here
are its three vital and sweeping
paragraphs:
Therefore be II resolved by the Senate
and House Of Representatives Of the
United Stoses Of Americo in Congress as
sembled:
That the President Of the United Stotes
be and he hereby Is authorized to employ
the armed forces Of the United stotes as
he deems necessary for the specific pur-
pose Of securing and protecting Formoso
and the FescodoFes osoinst ormed attock.
this authority TO include the securing ond
protection Of such related positions and
territories Of thct aeeo now in friendly
hands end the tokins Of such ofher meas-
uses os he Judges to be required o.
appropriate in assuring the defense Of
fomoso and the Psscodores
This rssclutioa shall expire when the
President shall determine thot The peace
ond security of the area il reasonably
assured BY The intsmotional conditions,
erected BY sesioa et the United Nations