John Foster Dulles has passed on to join the rank of the immortals in history. If, as Cicero said: "No one could ever meet death for his country without the hope of immortality," then Mr. Dulles' undying fame and gratitude from the free nations of the world are richly deserved, for he has devoted a lifetime's work in the interest of international peace, world security and better, higher morality among nations. His stature as a great statesman was gained through his dedication to idealism, his championship of international justice and his architecture of a firm, viable free world policy vis-a-vis Soviet imperialism. These are the legacies of a noble, selfless soul, for which mankind will long remember.
In the past few years, Soviet imperialism has cast a ghastly shadow over the world. As the policy-maker for the United States and the free nations, the former secretary of state had the responsibility of mapping out a course of action that would stop the continuous, ruthless Communist aggression. His master strategy was "massive retaliation" supplemented by a long-range policy of shepherding the straggling anti-Communist nations to form a solid united front, and bolstered by what has been sarcastically called "brinksmanship" (i.e. facing up to Communist threats bravely even to the brink of war). Whereas the Russians used threats and intimidations, Mr. Dulles showed courage and resolution; whereas the Russians lied and cheated, Mr. Dulles relied on truth and reason; whereas the Soviet imperialists wanted to convert the whole world to be their domain, Mr. Dulles fought to keep the free countries from falling into their grasp. It speaks well for the success of Mr. Dulles' policies that during the past several years the Soviet imperialists made no territorial gains anywhere in the world.
To the Asians, the memory of the late secretary of state will always be treasured. He was one of the first eminent Americans to recognize the importance of taking on the Communist challenge on a global basis. He saw that if Communism is to be checked, it is just as important to call it to a halt at West Berlin as in the Taiwan Straits. As architect of the Japanese peace treaty, he showed farsighted statesmanship in burying the hatchet with the former enemy state in the interest of free world solidarity. Through several bilateral defense agreements with Asian nations and in sponsoring the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, he served notice on international Communists that the United States has vital interests in this area and brooks no encroachment upon them by aggressive forces. His firmness in backing up Free China in the defense of Kinmen last year despite strong opposition from appeaser elements in the Western camp has convinced the Asian peoples of the willingness of the United States to carry out its obligations and the effectiveness of its arms aid. In the years to come this will be remembered as a classic example of how to deal with "brush fire" wars.
There is a Chinese saying to the effect that public opinion formed of a person will crystallize after the closure of the casket. If so, the time has come for the world to join in paying tribute to the man who has in the past done so much in combating Communism and making the world safe for humanity. At this writing even the Russians have seen fit to heap praises on him. Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko has gone to Washington to attend the funeral of the late secretary of state, a man he and his countrymen had so often maligned and reviled in the most uncivilized terms. This only shows that the greatness of Mr. Dulles has transcended national boundaries and that his spirit has risen above the strife and turmoil of the present-day world. While the entire world is' paying homage to this noble, immortal soul, let his countrymen and other free peoples of the world recall his ideals, his dedicated objectives and his consistent attempts to make this a free, democratic, prosperous world fit for his contemporaries and posterity. Let them dedicate themselves to the duty of perpetuating his memory by carrying on to completion the monumental tasks he has so nobly begun.
Tension In Taiwan Straits
The Chinese military authorities in Taiwan have more than once warned the people in recent weeks of the possibility of renewed Chinese Communist attacks on the offshore islands. In the past few months the Chinese Communists have concentrated a large force of aircraft in the airfields along the South China coast opposite Taiwan. It is believed that a part of these art: MIG-19's equipped with air-to-air missiles like the Sidewinders. For the accommodation of these aircraft, the Communists have been busily building airstrips or enlarging existing airfields. They have also concentrated junks and war vessels in nearby harbors. The sporadic bombardments of Kinmen and Matsu have in recent weeks shown increased intensity. All these activities may or may not mean that the Communists would start another large-scale war in the Taiwan Straits, but it is the better part of discretion for us to assume that they would.
Anyway, both the Chinese and American military authorities are taking no chances and have taken all the necessary precautions. A spokesman of the Chinese Air Force said CAF fliers have always been maintaining a high degree of alertness, ready for action any moment. Air patrols on the Straits have greatly increased in number. Admiral Ni Yue-si, Commander in Chief of the Chinese Navy, said there are indications that the Reds might attack the government ships at any time, but added that the Chinese Navy is on the alert and is prepared to lick the enemy.
At the same time, elements of the United States 5th and 13th Air Forces and the 315th Air Division have just concluded a mobility training exercise over the Taiwan area to test their alertness in the event of an enemy attack.
Some people like to belittle the significance of present Chinese Communists' military activities in this part of the world, pointing out that they are having their hands full in Tibet and elsewhere on the Chinese mainland where uprisings keep cropping up. The fact of the matter is that the Chinese Communists may be under orders from Moscow to create a diversion in the Taiwan Straits so as to give the Soviet imperialists time to consummate their plans in other sore spots of the world, such as Berlin and the Middle East. In fact, the Chinese Communists themselves may well wish to distract world attention from their operations in Tibet. The total blackout of news from the roof of the world may actually mean that they are not having everything their way up there.
Because of her nearness to the Chinese mainland and her knowledge of the Communist ways, Free China's military intelligence about the Chinese Communists' had been known for its accuracy. In the present circumstance, there may be a chance that the Communists are not going to attack. But to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and we shall not be caught unprepared.
Communist Pressure On Laos
The Chinese Communists are busily step ping up their diplomatic and propaganda attacks on Laos. They have sent letters to Britain and Russia complaining that Laos had violated the 1954 Geneva agreements, which ended the Indochina war. At the same time they are broadcasting vitriolic attacks on the Laotian government for having violated the said agreements.
The Geneva agreements of 1954 were concluded greatly in favor of the Chinese and Vietnamese Communists. In the state of Laos two of the northeastern provinces bordering on Communist North Vietnam were left in the control of the Communist Pathet Lao followers. In 1957, after interminable fighting with the government forces, followers of the movement acted on the advice of the Chinese Communists to stop fighting and joined a coalition government. It was thought that with the strong backing of their Chinese and North Vietnamese comrades a short way across the borders, the Pathet Lao followers would have no difficulty in expanding their influence and take over the control of the government by political means. In fact in the elections of 1957 for twenty supplementary seats in parliament, Pathet Lao won thirteen. Since the present Premier Phoui Sananikone came to power, however, the tide began to turn. To stop Communist inroads, he denounced the armistice agreements, which had guaranteed Pathet Lao participation in the government and set about disarming the two battalions of Pathet Lao troops waiting for integration into the government forces. He succeeded in securing the surrender of one and chasing the other into the woods.
The Chinese Communists' propaganda attacks on Laos may therefore be viewed as due to their disappointment over the fact that their plan for peacefully taking over that country has miscarried. In their revolution against the Chinese government, they gained immense advantages by joining the government as a political party, and they also derived immense benefits from having their army integrated in the government forces. What they advised the Pathet Lao followers to do was no more than repeating their experiences on the Chinese mainland. Once participation in the government is effected, the Communists will be able to bore from within and work for the government's downfall.
Premier Phoui Sananikone's success in dealing with the Communists is heartening to all the free Asian countries. A great part of it no doubt comes from the aid he has received from the United States. Because of the long borders Laos shares with North Vietnam and the Chinese Communists, it takes great courage and resolution on the part of its leaders to take an independent course of action. However, in fighting against Communists mere courage and resolution are not enough. Nor is it advisable for the free world to leave Laos to tackle the Communists alone. Alliance with some of the neighboring anti-Communist states, such as South Vietnam and Thailand, is strongly indicated. In wishing Premier Phoui continued success in his attempts to steer clear of Communist interference in the Laotian government, we wish all the free Asian nations would see what can be done to relieve Communist pressure on this land-locked Communist infested state.
Church And Peiping Recognition
Religion is anathema to Communism. It is surprising that in recent months some religious bodies in the United States have come out openly for the recognition of the Chinese Communist Peiping regime. They certainly did not do this for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of God, because, since the Chinese Communists seized control of the Chinese mainland, religion has been anything but dead inside the Iron Curtain. For the Communists believe Lenin's saying that religion is the opiate of mankind, and they spare no effort in stamping out religions and religious beliefs.
One of the favorite arguments used by advocates of recognition is that, as the United States has recognized the Soviet Union and the majority of its satellites, why should the American government withhold recognition from the Peiping regime. The fact of the matter is that the United States did not recognize the Soviet government until seventeen years after its establishment. Prior to that, the Soviet Union had given little cause for dissatisfaction to the United States. The Peiping regime, however, has fought a bitter war against the United States in Korea and against U.S. allies in other parts of Asia. It has imprisoned and expelled and murdered hundreds of American missionaries in China and are still keeping some of them prisoners. It has been making vast propaganda attacks against the Americans, accusing them of being imperialists and exploiters of the Asian peoples. It blames the Americans for all the troubles in the world and heaps on them all sorts of abuses. Worst of all, it pictures the Americans as "paper tigers" and predicts that the Communists will rule the world.
Under such circumstances, to accord recognition to the Peiping regime is for the United States to ask for further insults from the Chinese Communists and degrade itself in the opinion of the Asian peoples. Surely no patriotic citizen of the United States would like to see his own country so degraded.
There are those missionaries who had left the Chinese mainland before the Chinese Communists took over and who, having made a great career in missionary work, want to go there again. They have contracted an undying love for the Chinese people and refuse to believe that things have so changed as to make preaching of the gospel impossible. These people see that their only hope of realizing their dream is through the recognition of the Peiping regime by their own government. They are, however, indulging in self-delusion, as all those missionaries who have been expelled by the Chinese Communists can testify.
By and large, the pastors and clergymen who advocate the recognition of the Peiping regime are ill-informed and not much else. But by the frequency the question is brought up and the vehemence of its advocates one can detect a familiar ring-Communist propaganda. It comes from the infiltration of Communists and Communist sympathizers into the churches so that the shepherds of men are no longer interested in heralding the coming of the kingdom of heaven but bent on convincing their congregations to accept the empire built along the line of Marx and Lenin.
In a free country one is entitled to free speech whether from the pulpit or away from it. But it is well said by Jesus: "That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall be accounted thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." When a pastor goes astray from seeking converts to the gospel to paving the way for conciliation with the irreconcilable enemy of the church, his congregation should not wait for his condemnation till doomsday but should at once set him right in the interest of his soul and those of other members of the church.