September 4, 1958
EISENHOWER: London, 4 – The tension over the situation in the Formosa Strait entered a new, more dangerous phase today following two important events. US President Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said he would not hesitate to use the American armed forces to protect the coastal islands of Quemoy and Matsu if it believed that this was necessary for the security of Formosa. At the same time in an official announcement, Red China extended its territorial waters to include Formosa and all other coastal islands characterized as being occupied by Americans and said it would regain them using all means at its disposal. This decisive clarification of the positions of the two rival powers is likely to lead to extremely dangerous developments which now depend on any military initiatives that they might take. DE GAULLE: Paris, 4 – The new French Constitution was proclaimed today in a ceremony by General Charles De Gaulle. It began with an award of medals to dozens of workers and then a speech by De Gaulle in which he referred to the history of the French Republic. He also emphasized that he and his government had assumed the mandate to draft the new Constitution legally and to submit it for the people’s approval.
