Editorial Note
In response to questions at his news conference of May 25, 1954, the Secretary of State commented on the possibility of United States intervention in Southeast Asia and particularly in Indochina. He reiterated that the United States would not intervene unilaterally but only as part of collective defense measures in accordance with the principles of the United Nations. He also said that the United States did not have before it any request from the French Government for intervention in Indochina, although there had been conversations to explore the circumstances under which intervention might be possible. Secretary Dulles emphasized the point that any such action would have to be sanctioned by Congress.
The Secretary’s remarks were issued as Department of State Press Release No. 284 of May 25, 1954; for text, see Department of State Bulletin, June 7, 1954, pages 862–864.