U.S. May Seek Branding Of China As Aggressor

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 13

U.S. May Seek Branding Of China As Aggressor

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) BANGKOK, February 23. United States sources were quoted today as saying that Mr Dulles would make it clear during the Bangkok conference that the United States intended to defend the Pescadores and Formosa, and would tell Sir Anthony Eden that any Communist invasion move toward Formosa through Quemoy or Matsu, if it appeared the real thing, would bring United States military power into play.

It was also reported that Mr Dulles hoped to get United Nations condemnation of the Chinese Communists for aggression in the Fortnosa Strait, along the lines of that stamped on the Peking Government for its attack on the Republic of Korea.

The sources said Mr Dulles would tell Sir Anthony Eden that Washington would not use pressure on the Nationalists into giving up more off-shore islands. Some British quarters have suggested this might be a means of gaining a cease fire and eventual peace.

A United Press correspondent said that Mr Dulles would “sound out” Sir Antnony Eden and other Manila Pact' delegates on the proposal that the United Nations brand Communist China an aggressor in the Formosa Strait area.

Reliable sources reported that Mr Dulles was “deeply concerned” over reports from Taipeh that the Communists might be preparing an invasion of Nanchi-shan Inland, the Nationalists’ northern outpost. They said Mr Dulles would emphasise to Sir Anthony Eden that the Communists had announced their, intention of capturing Formosa and the surrounding islands, and had rejected a United Nations invitation to discuss a cease fire. The same sources said Australia, the Philippines, and possibly Siam would support Mr Dulles’s plan if it was decided to put such a project into execution.

Sir Winston Churchill’s Cigars.—Sir Winston Churchill told the Italian Foreign Minister (Mr Gaetano Martino) that he had smoked seven cigars a day for the last 60 years, says a London correspondent of the New York “Herald Tribune.” Allowing for leap years, this would bring Sir Winston’s total to more than 153,000 cigars.—New York, February 22.