FOREIGN RELATIONS: Substance in Speculation?

Russia’s Khrushchev and Red China’s Mao, meeting in Peking in early August, were accompanied by their defense ministers—a fact that led to a rush of speculation. Gist of the rumors: Communist China was again preparing to attack Formosa or the Nationalist-held offshore island chains of Quemoy and Matsu. Later events gave some substance to the speculation: Communist MIG-17s and Nationalist F-86s and F-845 began tangling more often above Formosa Strait; Communist gunners began to pound the islands, last week put down thousands of shells in two hours of the heaviest bombardment that Quemoy has ever taken.

Last week U.S. Secretary of State Dulles took official notice of the speculation—and its possible substance. U.S. policy, he made clear, has not changed since 1955, when Communist China made its most threatening passes at Quemoy and Matsu. U.S. firmness eased that crisis—and Dulles was still being firm. “We are indeed disturbed by the evidence of Chinese Communist buildup,” said he. “I think it would be highly hazardous for anyone to assume that if the Chinese Communists were to attack and seek to conquer these islands, that that could be a limited operation. It would, I fear, constitute a threat to the peace of the area.”

Red China’s reply: eight Communist fighters made the Red China air force’s first strafing run over Quemoy.