CONFLICT IN INDOCHINA— Soviet Recognition Of Rebel Government

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1950, Page 6

CONFLICT IN INDOCHINA— Soviet Recognition Of Rebel Government

I LONDON, January 31.—Russia has recognised the rebel Government of Dr Ho Chi-minh, which has been at war with France in Indo-China for more than three years. The Russian recognition came within a fortnight of the recognition of Dr Ho Chi-minh’s Government by the Chinese Communist Government, the leader of which (Mr Mao Tse-tung) has been in Moscow for talks with Mr Stalin since before Christmas.

The diplomatic correspondent of The Times says that the British. Government will grant de facto or de jure recognition to the French-sponsored Government of Bao Dai in IndoChina as soon as the President of France CM. Vincent AurioU ratifies' the agreement of March, 1949, giving self-government within the French Union to the three States of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The French National Assembly approved the agreement last Sunday.

“There is a strong suggestion that the United States expects soon to rei cognise the new autonomous Bao Dai ; regime in Indo-China and give it as- ! si stance,” said the New York Times ■ in a leading article today. “Bao Dai will be supported, not because of any .deep personal devotion ! to him, but because it is of the utmost consequence to keep Indo-China free from Communist domination, and Bao

Dai offers the best present chance to do this. “The key to Indo-China’s significance is rice. Surplus rice that can i make the difference between subsist- ' ence and starvation to many millions J of persons must come from IndoChina, Siam, and Burma. Control of this rice supply by a group of regimes taking their orders from Moscow would, literally place the life or .death of great masses of population in. tne hands of the Kremlin.”