ORDERS GIVEN BY MR TRUMAN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 5

ORDERS GIVEN BY MR TRUMAN

President Truman yesterday ordered United States air and sea forces to give "cover and support to the South Korean troops in their resistance to the North Korean invaders.”

He also ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa, and he said that military assistance to the Philippines and Indo-China would be accelerated.

The President asked that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek cease his attacks on the Chinese mainland as a contribution toward pacification of the whole Far Eastern area.

He said: "The attack on Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that Communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations, and will now use armed invasion and war.”

He said that Communism had defied the United Nations and added: “In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to the United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area.”

The President issued his statement from a meeting with the High Military Command and top diplomatic and Coneressional leaders.

After saying that the United States forces in the Philiopines would be strengthened, he said: "I have similarly directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and her associated States in Indo-China, and the dispatch of a military mission to provide close working relations with those forces.” U.N. Resolution The United States actions were taken under the United Nations resolution which condemned the invasion of South Korea and asked all member nations to lend support in carrying out the cease fire order.

Mr Truman said: “I know that all members of the United Nations will consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the United Nations Charter. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far-reach-ing effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.” Mr Truman, as he left the White House, appeared to be in his usual cheerful mood. He declined to add to his statement, saying to reporters: “I have said all I am going to say in that release.”

All the foreign ambassadors and ministers in Washington, with the exception of those from the Communist or Communist-dominated countries, were called to the State Department before Mr Truman’s statement was issued.

Senator Scott Lucas, who is the Democratic floor leader, said later that negotiations were under way to get other nations to join the United States m armed support of the South Korean forces.

The Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) declined to comment on the President’s statement except to say: “The statement sneaks for itself, if anything ever did.” ' . Congressional leaders gave their unqualified support for the Presidents action. _ .... Senator Styles Bridges, a Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “It is a damned good action.”