Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Current EventsBy Prof. William H. RussellRETREAT IN INDOCHINAIndochina seems doomed to Communism. France is prepared to make a truce which will give much of the countryto the Communists, and leave the rest of it open to theirgradual occupation. The French have withdrawn their armiesfrom a large sector of the Red River delta. The abandonedarea included 1500 square miles of valuable rice land and fivefortified cities. About two and a half million people are thusgiven over to Viet Minh. One million of them are RomanCatholics, and it will be interesting to see how theyCommunist rule.react toFrance claimed that the retreat strengthened her militaryposition around the Viet Nam capital of Hanoi. But the VietNam government apparently was not consulted, and thenatives can have little incentive left to resist Communism.Many of the Indochinese, and many Americans also, now believe that France will abandon all of northern Indochina.Truce talks have begun in Indochina, and the Communistswill probably prolong these as long as theyeasy military gains.AGREEING TO DISAGREEcontinue to makeThe meeting between Churchill and Eisenhower apparently did nothing to resolve the basic differences between Britishand American foreign policy. The British are more frightenedthan we are at the possibility of an atomic war. This: is understandable considering England's small territory, dense population, and closeness to Russia. Churchill still believes in thecoexistence"possibility of "peacefulwith Russia and is willingto give the Communists the benefit of every possible doubt.Our government, on the other hand, is convinced that Communism is basically aggressive and that only force or thethreat of force can stop it.The differences between the Allies may reach a crisis thissummer or fall over the admission of Red China to theU. N. The British openly favor such a move, and want toexpand trade as well. Leaders in our Senate Have threatenedto work for our withdrawal from the U. N. if Red China isadmitted. Eisenhower and Dulles oppose such extreme statements, and there may be difficulties within the Republicanparty over foreign policy. Personally, though we do not favoradmitting Red China as one of the United Nations, we cansee little good in pulling out of the U. N. Such a move wouldleave us in diplomatic isolation and put the U. N. underCommunist control, making it a positive menace.NEW REGIME FOR GUATEMALATwelve days of revolution were sufficient to overthrowthe pro-Communist government of Guatemala. The fightingconsisted mainly of attacks by a few old fighter planes whichgave the rebels air superiority. Guatemala's army apparentlyheld few Communist sympathizers, and army leaders joinedwith the rebel chief, Col. Castillo Armasi, in forming a fivemanrevolutionaryjunta. The government is still far fromsecure, as the two leading colonels have not been friendly inthe past, and can hardly continue to rule jointly. The juntahas promised to choose a permanent president by July 17, andto form a new constitution, after which there will be apopular vote for president.The Guatemalan developments have given Russia clearJuly 14, 1954notice that the American states will take drastic action ifnecessary to keep Communism out of this hemisphere. SomeLatin Americans resented the open opposition of our government to the pro-Communist regime in Guatemala; butonce the revolution was on, the Organization of AmericanStates; backed the U. S. The Council of the O.A.S. scheduleda meeting for July 7, but postponed it indefinitelyrebels gained control.BANANA MONOPOLYwhen theThe Justice Department has brought an anti-trust suitagainst the United Fruit Company, which has dominated thebanana trade for more than half a century. The company ischarged with controlling banana prices and eliminating competition, through monopolistic control of the banana-growinglands and transportation and communication facilities,. It isalso accused of price-cutting and other unfair practices. Thecompany has called the charges groundless, and pointed to itslarge contributions to the development of backward areasof Latin America. The suit has political implications, since thepro- Communist government of Guatemala asserted that U. S.foreign policy in Central America was designed to protect theUnited Fruit Company's land holdings.United Fruit has total assets of about $580 million, and isone of the largest American companies engaged in foreignoperations. It not only imports two-thirds of our bananas,but also deals in sugar, cacao, and other tropical products.It operates 1500 miles of railroads and a fleet of 65 ships,owns about 3 million acres of land, and has nearly 100,000employees. In early days the companycontrolled LatinAmerican governments and ruled its native workers with aniron hand. Its policies now are much more liberal, but manyLatin Americans still feel that it is an obstacle to social reform.AIR ACADEMYAfter weeks of controversy, Colorado Springs has beenchosen as the site of the nation's new Air Academy. This willserve the same purpose for the Air Force as West Point forthe Army and Annapolis for the Navy. It marks an importantstep in building up the tradition of a separate Air Force. TheAir Academy will eventually have an enrollment of 2,600, butabout half the officers will still come from R.O.T.C. and othersources. Congress has authorized $126 million for construction,but much more will eventually be required. Besides schoolbuildings, the Academy will have an air field and the inevitable football stadium.EDUCATIONAL TV LAGGINGThe future of educational television is hanging in thebalances. Two years ago the Federal Communications Commission set aside over two hundred TV channels for noncommercial educational use. But thus far, applications havebeen filed for less than 20 per cent of these channels. Meanwhile commercial networks aredemanding more outlets thanare available. If the channels reserved for educational use arenot soon taken, there will be very strong pressure to turnthem over to commercial sponsors, so that we may be edifiedwith more crime shows, beer advertisements, etc. Some very(Continued on page 22)19