Formosa Straits

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 3

Formosa Straits

Sir—President Eisenhower’s revelation that one-third of Chiang Kai-shek’s troops are now on Matsu and Quemoy shows that Chiang is the aggressor. Do your readers know that these islands are only two miles off the mainland and that they block two of China’s important ports: Amoy and Fouchow? What country could tolerate the concentration of a hostile force so close to its shores?—Yours, etc., OBSERVER. August 29, 1958.

Sir,—Before responsibility can be assigned for renewed i tension in Formosa Straits two questions need answering. Is the Formosa defence provided with atomic warheads? Did such arming precede Communist build-up on the mainland? The provocative nature of such a gesture can readily be gauged: and it would not be the first time American statesmanship has used similar methods tfi rile the Chinese Communists into a move which could be construed as offensive. An armed clash between Americans and Chinese over the off-shore islands could hardly remain localised. Apparently Mr Dulles is prepared to accept such risk A final questiwi then arises. Is he now taking his counsel from the “preventive war” advocates? —Yours, etc., FRANCIS Wm. HEAL. August 28, 1958.