CANADA’S VIEW ON FORMOSA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26968, 18 February 1953, Page 7

CANADA’S VIEW ON FORMOSA

Move “Regretted” But “Not Condemned” OTTAWA, February 17. “The Canadian Government regrets that the United States had found it necessary t 0 deneutralise Formosa, but did not ‘condemn’ it for. that,’’ the Foreign Secretary, Mr Lester Pearson said last night in the House of Commons. In a foreign policy speech when he was replying to demands for- a clarification of the Canadian attitude towards the United States Formosa move, Mr Pearson said the Gbvernment had expressed concern to the United States authorities. He defined “concern” as a diplomatic word not meaning “vigorous protest.” But he said that in a week-end talk with Mr Dulles he had expressed anxiety lest anything be done that would extend the war in the Faj East. He said Canada had made it known that there should be a distinction drawn between action, taken by the United Nations and action taken by the United States. He said he had received “reasonable assurance” in Washington that the United States had no desire to do anything that would be rash or provocative- and would not do anything calculated to bring involvement in a wider Far Eastern war. Mr Dulles, he said, had stated’ that the fears that had been read into the United States Formosan action were not justified. The aim of the United States was to do what could be done to keep the enemy off balance.