PAGE TEN
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1950
The Editors Report
ACHESON'S PROBLEM
The first question that Secretary Acheson has had to tackle in his current discussions in Europe is the problem of aid to Indo-China and what we propose to do about it.
Indo-China
That problem is closely tied up to the questions of strength and stability in Western Europe, since the French hold that they cannot sustain the cost and effort of a substantial contribution to European defense while they are obliged to spend $500,000,000 a year to fight off the Communist advance in Southeast Asia.
The Indo-Chinese problem, however, is not simple. It is not an open-and-shut-case, right or wrong, black or white. We cannot approach the French in a take-it-or-leave-it attitude, since we, like they, are on the horns of something of a dilemma. We want to support nationalism and the movement toward independence in Asia. We want the port nationalism in Asia.
We have talked about global strategy and global diplomacy, and here is a swift instance of the indivisibility of the fight for the right to remain free.
We want the French to help us in the defense of threatened peoples against the onslaught of aggressive communism. But we can hardly demand that the French continue to give their lives and half their military budget to preserve a position merely for the sake of abandoning it.
Indo-China occupies a critically strategic position. It borders on Thailand, Burma and South China. It is a gateway to Malaya, as the Japanese demonstrated. It flanks the Philippines. It is a big arch in the bridge to Indonesia. If it falls to the Communist advance the whole of Southeast Asia will be in mortal peril.
We are certainly not prepared to assume all of the French obligations in Southeast Asia, so we are scarcely in a position to dictate all the terms of our assistance.
Indo-China, moreover, is not a political unit. Two great partially autonomous areas, Laos and Cambodia, are under French protection. They are fearful of the Annamese, who are the dominant element in Viet Nam, and wish to preserve their identity. Viet Nam, taking in the areas of Tongking, Annam and Cochin China, has two rival claimants for "nationalist" supremacy.
In the north chiefly, is the Communist-led Viet Minh regime of Ho Chi Minh, recognized by the Soviet Union and its satellites as a republican government. Farther south is the French-sponsored Viet Nam government of Bao Dai, former Emperor of Annam, which has been made partially self-governing but which is still under strong French control. Both regimes are "nationalist."
The Ho Chi Minh group stands for complete independence from the French. How far it can be independent of Moscow is another matter. The Bao Dai group proposes to stay within the French orbit. How far, therefore, it can command profound popular support as truly "nationalist" is also a question.
The United States Government decided that Bao Dai, with his recognized shortcomings, was at least the lesser of two evils and granted recognition to his regime. It was therefore presumed that United States aid would be forthcoming to strengthen that government in its resistance to the Communist attack.
It now appears that the United States wishes some further French commitment in respect to Bao Dai that will enlarge the powers of the regime and enhance the prospects of early independence.
The French are convinced that Indo-China does not have the requisite trained leaders to undertake all the obligations of an independent state at this time and they do not believe that those necessary leaders can be found in the near future. The defense of Indo-China, for example, cannot possibly be conducted at this time by indo-Chinese alone.
Rt is against this background that Secretary Acheson has discussed the Indo-Chinese situation in Paris. It is a situation, obviously, that is not susceptible to any ready-made doctrinaire solution. If Indo-China is to have a chance for eventual freedom, and if Southeast Asia is to be preserved, the Communist threat must be met.
This is not just a choice between "colonialism" and "independence." There will be no free Indo-China in a slave world, and we and the French, with British help, must find the means to prevent that eventuality.—The New York Times.
by Keith Leslie
'Small Things'
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey declared, "The Fair Deal is a faro deal for New York, and the people are getting trimmed every day." Ed. note: Now he tells us!
Somebody, who if he isn't an alumnus, then certainly must have walked up 14th street, has invented a gearshift for shoes that by adjusting them to inclines keeps feet horizontal. Now that quiz files are approved by the administration, we can't see much room for improvement around here unless it would be to dismiss school on May 24.
We've heard of newlyweds being hazy about what they'd done at Niagara Falls, but for a mother of three children to be befuddled as to how she got in the middle of the Niagara river, we're a bit puzzled.
TODAY'S MAIL
Moved
Sir:
I am moved to write this in the behalf of humanitarianism. I attended Thelma Mims recital Sunday in which she certainly did justice to her race (or any race).
I am sick to the core of hearing and reading the utter base insidious remarks about the inequality of races and the utter inability of ever meeting them upon equal grounds.
It is too bad that a few prejudiced people have such a bloated opinion of themselves and their heritage that they are blind to the existence of life, feeling, and talents in all people regardless of race, color, or creed. It is too bad that a few would deny the privilege to develop potential creativeness in some, yet grant it to others.
The world continues to whitewash the feuculence of its society and thus lend perpetuity to excessive intolerance. It's time for smug intellectuals (?) to wake up and realize that the other guy has abilities and feelings too.
It is too bad we cannot be judged on the basis of our heritage. It is good that many see the righteousness in allowing ALL to develop as per his abilities but it would be a more brotherly world if more were equally inclined.
This is not a defense of the negro race in particular but rather a defense of all subjugated humanity in general.
Beverly Freeman Stapaules College junior
Naval Research Unit Begun In Lawrence
Formal activation of a Lawrence unit of the volunteer naval research reserve was conducted Monday by Comdr. R. W. Mayhew of the Chicago division of the office of naval research.
Twenty-one charter members of the Lawrence unit were installed by Commander Mayhew in the Military Science building.
This naval reserve research unit is the second of its kind in Lawrence. The army has had a research and development unit in Lawrence for approximately two years.
ATTENTION!
- Organized Houses
- Fraternities
- Sororities
Summer time is the ideal time to have those worn pieces roupholstered so they will be
they will be—
for those returning students next Fall.
- OUR PRICE IS RIGHT
* OUR WORK SUPERIOR
Stop in or call for
FREE ESTIMATE
Dingman Furniture 1803 Mass. Ph. 1503
University
Daily kansan
News Room K.U.251
Adv. Room K.U.376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn. National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., and the Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service,420 Madison Ave., New York City.
James Morris
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Cher
Doris Greenbank
Managing Editor
Jones Shriver
Business Mgr.
Asst. Man. Editors...Norma Hunsinger
Kay O'Connor
John Hill
Ralph Hemenway
City Editor...Edward Chapin
Asst. City Editors...Nelson Ober
Marky Marks
Elaine Elvig
Steve Ferro
Feature Editor...Frances Kelley
Photograph Editor...Frankie Walts
Telegraph Editor...Robert Sigman
William Graves
Richard Tenn
Lloyd Holbick
Sports Editor...Richard Dlsaver
Asst. Sports Editors...Bob Leonard
Ray Soldan
Arthur McIntire
Mona Millikin
Society Editor...Faye Wilkinson
Asst. Society Editors...Billie Stover
Editorial Assts...Keith Leslie
Adv. Mgr...Charles Reiner
Cir. Mgr...Yvonose Joserand
Net Adv. Mgr...Forrest Bray
Classified Ad. Mgr...Lee Dyer
Promotion Mgr...John Wiedeman
Zoology Club To Picnic
The annual Snow Zoology cl picnic will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in Clinton park. Club members and their families are invited to attend. Baseball and other games will be played.
Editing II students in charge of the copy desk for today's Kansan are Stella Gabrielson, journalism senior, and Lloyd Holbeck, journalism junior.
"Oxen of the sea" is the appropriate nickname given by the Spaniards to the big, tasty crabs weighing five pounds and more caught in the Bay of Biscay.
HERE IT IS!
The sensational "circle" skirt to put sparkle in your summer wardrobe. Screen printed skirts $6.95 to $8.95 Hand-painted skirts $3.98 Tapestry skirts $4.85 TERRILL'S
803 Mass.
---