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If the Communists can finally capture, by default, the loyalty of the overseas Chinese, they will have been presented with the largest fifth column in world history.
On Formosa, some have lost all faith in The Return. They recognize that they are not going back to the mainland unless the U.S. helps put them there. They argue that the government should concentrate on making Formosa a viable place, that the hope of return, constantly frustrated, leads to nothing but despair.
But the President of Nationalist China will hear no talk of settling down on a neutralized Formosa. Chiang Kai-shek does not believe this is one of the possibilities open to him or to the world, no matter how much well-intentioned diplomats try to bring off a settlement. On this basic point he and his Communist enemy (to judge by the enemy's words) are in complete agreement.
Does this mean that Chiang accepts—and would even wish to bring on—World War III? Today's world might not be prepared to accept Chiang's answer, for it runs counter to accepted habits of thought. His "counterattack" on the mainland, says Chiang Kaishek, will not bring on a general war: in fact, it is the only way World War III can be avoided, for so long as the mainland of China is in Communist hands, a third world war will always be possible and perhaps likely.