THREAT TO FORMOSA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 13

THREAT TO FORMOSA

Dulles Reports To U.S. Senate WASHINGTON, April 19. The United States Secretary of State, Mr Dulles, told the Senate Foreign . Relations Committee today he did not know how to view the development of Chinese Communist air power opposite Formosa. He was uncertain whether it indicated a more rapid build-up of offensive strength or whether it was just that the United States was obtaining better information now on the Chinese operations. The secretary’s views were given to reporters by the Democratic chairman of the committee. Senator Walter George, after Mr Dulles had appeared at a private committee meeting. Senator George said most of the «ession dealt with the State Department’* | release of the Yalta documents, but I that some questions had been asked about the Formosa situation. Last Sunday Mr Dulles told reporters the Communists were engaged in | an extensive air power build up which could have grave consequences. Senator George said committee members had asked the Secretary to elaborate on this: Mr Dulles, according to the Senator,, had replied that “it was not at all certain” whether there was a more rapid step-up in activity, such as airfield construction or whether the United States was getting a little more information about such activity. In a dispatch from Taipeh. a United Press correspondent reported that, according. to official Nationalist quarters, a considerable number of Soviet-built IL-28 light bombers had been shifted to within striking distance of Formosa.