“Cold War Wanning Up”— French Protest On Russia’s New Move

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1950, Page 5

“Cold War Wanning Up”— French Protest On Russia’s New Move

PARIS, January 31 (Rec 11.45 a.m.). —The French Government tonight protested to Russia that Soviet recognition of the Ho Chi-minh regime in Indo-China “gravely impairs the relations” between France and Russia. The Note was delivered simultaneously to the Russian Ambassador, Mr Alexander Bogolovmoy, and the United States Ambassador and the British Charge d’Affaires. The National Assembly’s defence commission chairman, M. Pierre Montel, said the Russian action meant that the cold war was warming up. “In Indo-China France is holding a strategic point for the Atlantic community,’’ he declared. “Russia’s world strategic position today is better than Hitler’s in 1939.”

The Minister of Overseas in France, M. Jean le Tourneau, said: “Recognition of Ho Chi-minh is the latest move in the cold war against the West and I do not think we should exaggerate its immediate consequences. As far as I can see, it will not make it. more or less difficult for arms to reach Ho Chi-minh. I am wondering to which capital or town the countries recognising Ho Chi-minh propose to send their representatives.” Reuter’s Hong Kong correspondent says that observers there believe that Mr Stalin’s recognition of Ho Chiminh will have a profound psychological effect on South-east Asia’s battle ideologists. They .see the Moscow action following closely upon Peking’s part in a

master plan to bring South-east Asia within the Communist fold, largely through fear. They predict renewed, vigorous Communist activity by elements within Indo-China, Siam, Malaya, Burma and India. ( . Observers point out that recognition will enable the Russians and Chinese to give valuable moral, and material aid to Ho Chi-minh, although it is thought unlikely that this will include armed forces.