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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1961
Kansan Focus on Crisis Areas Asia Is Trouble Spot
Southeast Asia, with more than 185 million people, is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is made up of states of Malaya, Burma, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of the Philippines, The Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (North Viet Nam), the Republic of Viet Nam (South Viet Nam), Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
By Zeke Wigglesworth
THE CONTEMPORARY political history of the area began with the close of the first World War. At this time, nationalism began to become an active force in the nations of Southeast Asia. Coupled with the rise of nationalism in the area was the rise of the Communists. In the 20s and 30s, the two factions worked together for the common goal of independence.
With the start of World War II, and the significant victories of the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, Singapore and Corregidor, the Japanese influence in the area became strong. Japanese forces arrived in Southeast Asia, preaching a better world under a "Greater East Asian Coprosperity Sphere." In some cases, the Japanese gave independence to the nations in Southeast Asia.
After the Allied victory, the colonial powers of the area, the Netherlands and France, tried to return to their colonies.
They were met with opposition from natives with a great sense of independence and a spirit of hyper-nationalism. As they tried to retake their former areas, the French and the Dutch found themselves involved in wars with the native populations, natives who often used Allied weapons and Allied-trained, ex-guerrilla leaders against them.
The two European powers reluctantly relinquished their powers in their ex-colonies in return for aid in fighting the Communists.
AMERICAN FOREIGN policy in the area has been one of extending our "massive retaliatory capacity," a doctrine espoused by the late John Foster Dulles. With a containment of the USSR and China in mind, the United States, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Republic of the Philippines and Thailand signed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in September of 1954. It is interesting to note that only one nation from Southeast Asia, Thailand, was represented. The SEATO pact is weak, but it states that any attack on a member nation would represent a threat to the other members. This
policy has been extended to include other areas in Southeast Asia not specifically covered by the treaty.
This aid is comprised of three types: economic, military and technical. Such groups as USOM (United States Overseas Missions), and MAAG (Military Assistance and Advisory Groups) are in some nations of Southeast Asia offering aid to them for fighting the Communists.
Today, the United States is giving aid to Southeast Asia.
The policy in the area, then, is one of helping the nations to help themselves. The United States stands on the principle that it is better to have the nations of Southeast Asia fight their own battles than it is for the United States to actively participate in the strife.
What Can I Do
By Kelly Smith
By the time we finish reading, thinking about, and discussing the alleged conflicts and turmoils of the world crisis, we almost automatically end up asking ourselves with a bitter taste of disappointment—"what can I do?"
Can an individual influence the world crisis? If so, how? Probably the best way to be of influence is to be informed, and then to apply that information toward a constructive use:
- By joining a political party or political pressure group.
- By focusing interest on the international scene through People-to-People, Peace Corps and foreign student organizations, talking with ambassadors and representatives from foreign countries.
- By traveling at every opportunity, and judging each locality in terms of its own problems, needs and expectations.
- By attending lectures, listening to those experts in the field of foreign relations from our own country.
- By reading books, newspapers, weekly magazines and periodicals.
Nuclear War Crisis
The student is introduced to the channels of communication and information during his academic career. He is tested on them in classes and forced into reading about them to keep up the conversation. But after graduation, the responsibility for listening and reading rests entirely on his own motivation.
On August 6, 1945, the United States exploded an atomic bomb at Hiroshima, Japan. In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission reported detection of atomic blasts in Russia.
With every succeeding blast, and every threat of war, the world brought closer a new crisis—nuclear war.
NO LONGER WOULD an armed conflict involve a few thousand men and the materiel to back them. War was fully on the road toward annihilating whole civilizations.
Now, 10 years later, this crisis has caused many eruptions. Russia's explosion of the 50 and 30 megaton bombs this year caused a new flurry of activity.
The crisis of a nuclear war was brought home to the people of the world. Fallout shelters became the fashion in the United States. Bertrand Russell and his "Ban the Bomb" organizations drew increasing attention. Neutralist nations started aligning either in favor of or against nuclear weapons and testing.
BENEATH IT ALL lies the question of the ethics of nuclear weapons and their testing. Russia's big blasts focused the eyes of the world on the danger of radiation, and the intense power inherent in a nuclear bomb.
Geneticists started their studies. Some said continued atmospheric tests would cause an increase in human mutations, and would affect the health of the living. Others said the damage would be insignificant. Practically all agreed that atmospheric testing would have some effect on future generations.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS now possessed by Russia and the United States could wipe a large city off the map. A city the size of Kansas City could be reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes by an atomic blast. Several thousand would be killed. Thousands more would suffer.
In any case, nuclear weapons testing is a prelude to war. This is where the crisis is most imminent.
Right now, United States submarines loaded with missiles patrol off the coast of Russia. Other missiles set on land are aimed and ready to go at the push of a button. Long range bombers loaded with nuclear bombs are in the air ready to strike 24 hours a day. Super carriers complete with a powerful armada of atomic bomb carrying planes cruise the seas.
Russia explodes ever larger nuclear bombs to "hold a sword of Damocles over the head of America." They rush to build nuclear submarines, larger and greater range bombers...
The race continues. Infinitely?
Only by taking an active part in government, taking the initiative to ask for more foreign aid and promoting exchange programs can anyone make that one voice heard as part of public opinion.
Press Has Role In World Crisis
By Scott Payne
The American populace is greatly misinformed by sensationalism and inaccuracies in American newspapers.
IT IS THE FEELING of these critics that American news reporting is inaccurate because its reporters lack capability and because editors tend to use the news which they feel their publics want—not what they should read.
This is the contention of many of the critics of American journalism.
Many of the exchange students here, particularly those from Europe and the Middle East, feel that certain events have been completely misrepresented by the American press. They contend, for instance, that very few Americans have an accurate picture of the Berlin crisis or of the happenings in Laos.
At KU there is a great deal of criticism of the press which comes from foreign exchange students. Their comments are reflective of those from national and international critics.
They blame this situation on the poor reporting of American news agencies.
IT IS ALSO the feeling of many critics that the reporting of many international events is monolithic because most U.S. papers depend upon the two agencies (Associated Press and United Press International) for all their news from abroad.
China Issue
China today is in two parts: The People's Republic of China and Free China.
The People's Republic covers an area of 4 million square miles and has a population of over 680 million people. Formosa (Free China) is an island,100 miles off the south coast of the China mainland. It is almost 14 thousand square miles in area, and has a population of 10 million people.
THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN CHINA was founded in 1921, four years before the death of Sun Yat-sen. The increasing influence of the Party created a civil war, abated only by the invasion of China by the Japanese shortly before World War II. After the end of the war, the strife continued, with the result that the Nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were pushed off the mainland of China by the Communists under Mao Tse-tung in 1949.
The separation of China has created many problems in American foreign policy toward China. Prime among these is which China do we recognize?
Our policy thus far has been the non-recognition of Red China, and the complete support of Chiang's regime on Formosa.
WE HAVE SWORN TO DEFEND his regime at all costs. The 7th Fleet of the United States Navy patrols the area between Formosa and the Communist mainland to insure that invasion (by either side) is not attempted.
We use this as a demonstration to our Allies that we are sincere in our sworn containment policies of Communism around the world. Formosa, South Viet Nam and South Korea are the Oriental equivalents of Berlin.
Unlike our British allies, who give de jure recognition to Red China, we have not recognized Red China since it was created.
There are two schools of thought about Red China's recognition in the United States:
- THE PRO FORCES MAINTAIN that those wanting non-recognition are trying to forget that Red China is there. They also say that more can be done by the United States recognizing the Communist regime than by not. If the Red Chinese are in the United Nations, they say, we could better deal with them.
- The opposition forces say that by recognizing the Red Chinese, we would be selling our allies down the river. They claim that we can, and are, dealing with the Mao Chinese outside the United Nations. They cite the settling of the Indo-Chinese war and the Korean War as examples of dealings with the Reds outside of usual diplomatic channels. Then they say, so what? We recognize them. What assurance do we have that they will conform to the rules and regulation of diplomacy?
The opinion of many is that sooner or later the United States will have to recognize Mao. They say that China is becoming too large a power in the world to just ignore. What the recognition of Red China would mean to Formosa and the rest of Asia is still unknown.
THE CONTROVERSY OF RECOGNITION of Red China goes into the United Nations, and there, is one of the chief problems that body faces. The Russians cry for complete recognition of Mao's China and non-recognition of Chiang. The United States refuses to accept this policy. Others want both Red China and Free China to be seated.