Fears That U.S. May Write Off China In Fighting Reds

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22818, 13 December 1948, Page 5

Fears That U.S. May Write Off China In Fighting Reds

(10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 12. The United Press correspondent says in Shanghai the Chinese Government has reason to believe that President Truman’s National Security Council has recommended the writing off of China in the fight against communism and concentrating on an all-out effort to save Japan and the Pacific Island chain, including Formosa and Hainan. Foreign Office sources in Shanghai say that if that were the case, the United States would find Nationalist China would not agree to the United States taking over Formosa and Hainan without demanding ironclad guarantees —so ironclad that the United States almost certainly would not agree to them. The White House refused today to comment on the reports from China that President Truman is attempting to persuade the Nanking Government, through Madame Chiang Kai-shek to reach a settlement with the Communists.

Diplomatic quarters said that such a settlement, if achieved, would probably be overwhelmingly favourable to the Communists and if the United State? is pressing for such an agreement it must be taking this probability into consideration.

The realities of the present situation lead some officials to believe that a settlement, even if it should result in a Communist-dominated Government is, perhaps, the best course.