RESISTANCE TO COMMUNISM— All East Asia Is Said To Be "Clamouring For Guns And Dollars”

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1950, Page 5

RESISTANCE TO COMMUNISM— All East Asia Is Said To Be "Clamouring For Guns And Dollars”

BANGKOK, February 15 (Rec. 11 a.m.).—The United States regional conference of diplomatic envoys from countries of Asia devoted its final session today almost exclusively to the urgent short range military and economic assistance required immediately to strengthen the capacity of East Asian nations to resist Communism. The envoys reported country by country on what specific, immediate Western aid each Asian Government most urgently requested. An envoy who attended the meeting said: “All East Asia is clamouring for guns and dollars—on quick delivery.”

The envoy added: “A roster, will have to be arranged, listing priorities or who is most worthy of the ieceipt of short-range aid, who can most effectively use it and who leads himself most honestly to help us to help him

Diversity of Needs “We still have not, by a long way, unsnarled the problem of how best to help each territory in Asia to help itself and its neighbours. , The envoys’ reports showed, with staggering clarity, the diversity of needs between countries and the lack of a readily exploitable cohesive force to hold South-East Asia together. The internal struggles within some of the recognised Governments alone have sent booming echoes of unreality issuing from their pleas for costly aid.” The conference also heard frank reports by the envoys on the diplomatic temper of some East Asian

Governments, which recently turned lethargic, fatalistic and sceptical on their chances of receiving any effective Western aid before the onslaught of Communist invasion or insurrection.

Chinese-Soviet Alliance When the news reached them the envoys held an immediate discussion of the implications of the Chin-ese-Russian treaty. They extended their final session until tonight to assure the conclusion 'of the conference. A communique on today’s activities says: “Specific attention was paid to the fears which have been expressed by certain Governments that their independence is or may be threatened by Communist attempts to overthrow established Governments and to subordinate States to the control of the international. Communist movement.”