12 OCTOBER 1951, Page 4

The comparatively few persons who enjoyed the opportunity of meeting

General de Lame de Tassigny during his short visit to London last week had an exhilarating experience. Contact with his vital personality made it easy to understand the effect his arrival in Indo-China had on both the French and the Viet-Nam troops there. He himself is entirely optimistic, pro- vided only that the Chinese do not intervene in force, in which case a new Korea would be created in South Asia—in a far more dangerous position strategically. The country is being pulled together morally as well as militarily and the Emperor Bao Dai is steadily strengthening his position. But it is plain that the future of Indo-China depends on what China does or does not do.

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