CHINA COAST ISLANDS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27632, 13 April 1955, Page 13

CHINA COAST ISLANDS

Stevenson Doubts Value To U.S.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) CHICAGO, April 11. Mr Adlai Stevenson, titular head of the Democratic Party, today said he hoped that inflammatory advice in President Eisenhower’s party and his Administration did not unbalance his consideration °f critical questions concerning the offshore islands on the China doast. n °ting' that the President had the sole responsibility for deciding wnether United States forces were to be committed in the Formosa area, Mr Stevenson asked: “Are the offshore islands essential to the security of the United States? Are they indeed essential to the defence of Formosa—which all Americans have agreed on since President Truman sent the Seventh Fleet there five years ago?” Mr Stevenson said that one of the weaknesses of the United States present position was that the administration had been making Formosa policy as it thought best regardless of others. Other nations could not always be expected to support policies they disagreed with, and could not be coerced into doing so.

STATUS OF FORMOSA

Possible Move In U.N. (Rea. 11.10 pjn.) WASHINGTON, April 12. Senator Walter George (Democrat. Georgia) said today that the Eisenhower Administration was considering whether to ask the United Nations General Assembly to pass a resolution against the use oi force in the Formosa Strait. Mr Adlai Stevenson proposed in a national radio broadcast last night that the United States submit a resolution condemning any attempt to alter the status of Formosa by force. Mr Stevenson, the 1952 Democratic Presidential nominee, also urged that efforts be made in the General Assembly to seek a formula for the permanent future of Formosa. In New York, United Nations diplomats said they knew of no move nending along this line. But Senator George, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a telephone interview from his home in Vienna, Georgia, that the proposal to put the General Assembly on record against the use of force in the Formosa area had been under State Department consideration. “But they have not been quite willing to risk it. thus far,” he said. "That is one possible way to bring the United Nations in on a cease-fire agreement, if it could be accomplished.” Senator George said he believed Mr Stevenson’s proposal for General Assembly consideration of a formula for the permanent future of Formosa was all right if the Soviet Union would agree to line up against the use of. force in the area.

“There might be some possibility of moving in that direction if we could get the first step taken and obtain a cease-fire agreement.” Senator George said. “It is something that cannot be done out of hand now.”

He expressed the belief that Communist China would not attack Nationalist strongholds if the Soviet Union could be induced to join in such an agreement.

He also said the possibility of securing such an agreement was one of the reasons behind his proposal for a top level Big Power meeting.