CONFIDENCE ON FORMOSA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26263, 7 November 1950, Page 7

CONFIDENCE ON FORMOSA

COMMUNIST ATTACK LESS LIKELY

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 6. “The Chinest Nationalist, American, and British authorities here all agree that any immediate threat of a Communist invasion of Formosa has greatly declined in the last few weeks,’’ says the “Daily Telegraph” correspondent in Taipeh, Formosa. "The chief cause of the growing feeling of confidence in this strategically important island has been Mr Truman’s order to the American 7th Fleet to attack any forces invading from the mainland. The United Nations victory in Korea has also contributed to the. sense of security. “Moreover, the Chinese Nationalists have used the time gained to good advantage. The Americans have no military mission with the Nationalist forces, but the American Minister has 46 military and naval representatives attached to ms staff. They have made a close study of the Formosan defences and believe that the Nationalist forces, nearly 600,000 strong, would fight far better'than they did on the mainland if the need should arise.

“Britain no longer recognises the Chinese Nationalist Government, but the British services are represented here by a liaison officer. “One sign of the increasing confidence is that the wives of American officials and businessmen are now being permitted to return. They left last January after the United States Administration appeared to have written off Formosa.

“In spite of “Mr Truman’s statement that the order to the 7th Fleet to protect Formosa would remain in force only until Korea had been settled, noone in Taipeh believes that the United States intends in any foreseeable future to abandon Formosa.’’