U.S. REPLY TO OFFER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 13

U.S. REPLY TO OFFER

Participation Of t Nationalists

(Bee. 11 pan.) WASHINGTON, April 24. The United States would insist on Nationalist China’s participation in any discussions on Formosa, a State Department spokesman said today when commenting on the call by Mr Chou En-lai for talks on Formosa.

The spokesman said: “The United States always welcomes efforts, if sincere, to bring peace to the world. In the Formosa region we have an ally in the free Republic of China, and of course the United States would insist on free China’s participation in any discussions concerning the area. “If Communist China is sincere, there are a number of obvious steps it could take to clear the air considerably

and give evidence before the world of its good intentions,” the spokesman added. “One of these would be to place in effect in the area an immediate cease fire. It could also immediately release the American airmen and others whom it now holds. Another could be the acceptance of the outstanding invitation of the Security Council of the United Nations to preside in the discussions • to end hostilities in the Formosa region.” “Should Sit Down and Talk” The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Walter George (Democrat) said: “I unhesitatingly say that this nation should be big enough and great enough, through its high officials, to sit down and talk. It is time that we should relieve the tensions of this world if we can.” The Senate Republican leader 'Senator William Knowland) denounced Mr Chou’s offer as an invitation to another “Mu : ch.” Senator Mike Mansfield (Democrat), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “The United States should move with extreme caution until the world knows whether Mr Chou is sincere.” A British Foreign Office spokesman said that Britain had always thought it possible that the Bandung conference might produce a new situation over Formosa. Asked if he thought Mr Chou’s statement had produced such a new situation, he said it was too early to say. “We are interested in any idea that might provide a basis for a settlement,” he added. The chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (Admiral Arthur Radford) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Mr Walter Robertson) conferred with the Chinese Nationalist President (Marshal Chiang Kai-shek) this afternoon. On their arrival at Taipeh, Mr Robertson told reporters: “We are coming here to discuss mutual problems of the defence treaty with our ally.” Nationalist planes today damaged five sma Chinese Communist landing craft and a small gunboat west of Amoy, the Nationalist Defence Ministry announced.