FORMOSA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 7

FORMOSA

Sir, —Your editorial argument that Formosa, because of its history and its racial minority .of non-Chinese stock (like the New Zealand Maoris predating the pakeha majority), could conceivably lay claim to being an independent “nation” rather than a part of China, is beside the point. If there was a substantial movement for such “separation” 10 years ago, the presence of United States armies, plus Chiang Kai-shek, is sure to have knocked such unrealistic notions out of their heads. At least the Chinese Peoples Republic’s policy of encouraging the rights of racial minorities gives them a little hope. The United States is in Formosa for military reasons and other “considerations” are sheer window-dressing. Note this opinion from the “Indian National Herald”: “What is amazing is why the United States should consider Formosa as more vital to her security than it is to China’s.”—Yours, etc., ELSIE LOCKE. February 22, 1955, Sir,—Commenting in today’s issue that “New Zealanders are not concerned with intrigue in Eastern Asia,” “Notornis” (appropriate signature) overpresumes the degree of gullibility, balancing propensity of this country's normal population. To disregard the “set-up” of those postulating remedies for preserving and enlarging “their” democratic way of life, by ganging up all the questionable, fulsome and dissident elements, championing “their” cause of dog eat dog, means ultimate disaster. In a world expressing new progression and constructive outlook m opposition to emancipating itself by the utilisation of dollar financed campaigns of aggression upon those countries, having the audacity to consider the overdue advisability of instituting a system which produces for use and not “free world” profit, realism must ultimately predominate.—Yours, etc., D.H.C. February 21, 1955.