Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
DAVID LAWRENCE
Grim Game in Southeast Asia

America means business and
will even intervene in Laos II
it becomes necessary. 1t was
this move, rather than any
feeling Of forbearance,
which caused Red China and
the Soviets to let the "coali-
ton" government emerge in
Laos.
Whether the recent activ-
titles by the United States
have effectively stopped the
Red Chinese plan to take
over Southeast Asia, or mere
ly caused a temporary inter-
ruption, cannot be deter
mined at this time. Unques-
tionably, each side is watch
ing the other, and if there
is any sign Of faltering on
the part of America. Develop
ments can come quickly and
decisively.
What seems incredible to-
day is the way the peoples
of the West have allowed
their own propaganda to be-
come so weak and vacillating
in the face of the biggest
march of imperialism the
present century has wit
messed. The Soviet Union
has already extended her
empire far and wide to cover
more territory than the
Cars Of Russia ever hoped
to conquer. Red China has
moved into neighboring
areas, too, and has attacked
countries across her borders.
II the Red Chinese weren't
restrained by fears Of West
ern military action, they
would not hesitate to make
a grab for India and Pakis-
tan as well.
incidentally, the Soviet
Union, though claiming to
be neutral. has been sending
military supplies from North
Wet Nam to Laos, and yet
criticizes the United States
for sending military advisers
to Laos.
The Red Chinese, for the
time being, are concentrate
ing their strategy on South
east Asia. But they are not
sure where the Soviets may
stand il a crisis comes. It is
this, rather than theological
differences. which may have
caused talk of enhancement
in relations between the two
big Communist allies.
The true imperialists In
the world today, therefore,
are the Soviets and the Red
Chinese. Yet official Ameri-
can propaganda hesitates to
recognize this truth and to
characterize it plainly in
daily broadcasts.
Senator Thurmond Of
South CAROLINA, Democrat,
recently has called attention
to the timidity Of American
officials in the phrasing Of
their public statements about
the Communists. A Senate
subcommittee has done a very
good job in exposing the
weaknesses in American
propaganda.
Maybe Radio Free Europe
will have to carry on the real
burden of the propaganda
war. It's a private operation.
financed largely by individu-
al Americans. Many so-called
neutral" nations are being
fooled by the Soviet and Red
Chinese imperialists. They
have been listening to the
Communist cries of colonial
ism" while at the same time
shutting their eyes to the
continued imperialism of the
Soviet Union and Red China.
What has really confused
the outside world is the way
the Communists have oper-
ated in Southeast Asia. They
have refrained from a strate-
gy of direct invasion and, as
President Kennedy describes
it in a report to Congress this
week, have turned to the use
of internal subversion, infil-
tration, and guerrilla war
fare" Thus, the President
points out that there are 200
combat divisions and more
than 1000 jet aircraft, as
well as sizeable naval forces,
poised in the Far East. But
these forces can be swung
into action in Southeast Asia
whenever the Communists
feel the time is ripe and they
have enough internal sup
port to warrant a takeover
and conquest.
(Copyright, 1899