President Eisenhower Speaks On The Formosa Situation Footage

PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SPEAKS ON THE FORMOSA SITUATION
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	Catalog #:	28468
	Clip Number:	28468-1
	Orginal Film:	UN 3137 D
	Timecode:
	Location:	Washington DC
	Year Shot:	1958 (Actual Year)
	Audio:	No
	Color:	No
	Headings:	JOURNALISM: Newsreel
	Description:	PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SPEAKS ON THE FORMOSA SITUATION Dwight D. Eisenhower Radio and Television Report to the American People Regarding the Situation in the Formosa Straits. Washington DC, United States of America USA. MS President Dwight Eisenhower sits down at desk. MS battery of cameramen CU Eisenhower seated at desk CUs Newsreel cameramen - they focus their lens. LS Eisenhower seated at desk with cameramen in foreground CU Plaque with seal of the President of the United States around the edge. CU Eisenhower begins to speak about Formosa. "While we shall never timidly retreat before the threat of armed aggression, we would welcome in the present circumstances negotiations that could have a fruitful result in preserving the peace of the Formosa area and reaching a solution that could be acceptable to all parties concerned including, of course, our ally, the Republic of China. ... It is as certain as can be that the shooting which the Chinese Communists started on August 23rd had as its purpose not just the taking of the island of Quemoy. It is part of what is indeed an ambitious plan of armed conquest. ... decided to risk a war, it can only be because they, and their Soviet allies, have decided to find out whether threatening war is a policy from which they can make big gains. If that is their decision, then a Western Pacific Munich would not buy us peace or security. It would encourage the aggressors. It would dismay our friends and allies there. If history teaches anything, appeasement would make it more likely that we would have to fight a major war. ... Now I assure you that no American boy will be asked by me to fight just for Quemoy. But those who make up our armed forces - and I believe the American people as a whole - do stand ready to defend the principle that armed force shall not be used for aggressive purposes. Upon observance of that principle depends a lasting and just peace. It is that same principle that protects the Western Pacific free world positions as well as the security of our homeland. If we are not ready to defend this principle, then indeed tragedy after tragedy would befall us. But there is a far better way than resort to force to settle these differences, and there is some hope that such a better way may be followed. That is the way of negotiation. ... I do not believe that any rulers, however aggressive they may be, will flout efforts to. find a peaceful and honorable solution, whether it be by direct negotiations or through the United Nations. My friends, we are confronted with a serious situation. But it is typical of the security problems of the world today. Powerful and aggressive forces are constantly probing, now here, now there, to see whether the free world is weakening. In the face of this, there are no easy choices available. It is misleading for anyone to imply that there are. However, the present situation, though serious, is by no means desperate or hopeless. There is not going to be any appeasement. I believe that there is not going to be any war. But there must be sober realization by the American people that our legitimate purposes are again being tested by those who threaten peace and freedom everywhere."