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CHINA MAIL
No. 34559.
ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS
HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1950.
ANKING'S S'HAI MISSION CANCELLED
Nationalists seek aeroplane parts, find sugar cargo
on
It was grim humour to personnel of the ss. Empire Mountain and HMS Morecambe Bay when a "disillusioned" Nationalist naval officer apologised profusely discovering only sugar instead of acroplane parts aboard the British blockade runner. However, on their return yesterday from North China most of the seamen recalled their ex- periences with good-natured grins.
It was their first trip to Red China and "it's all in the game.
"
Malaya-wants- more troops
Singapore, Apri* tt.
The Malayan Legislative Council meeting on April 10 will debate a_inction urging the Brillih Government to send more troops "forthwith"
speed to
the campaign Against Communjal terrorists.
The text of the motion re leased in Kuala Lumpur to- day sald that while the Coun.
appreciated the recent
additional aselatance by Hir Majesty's Government, viewed with grave concern the slow
towards progress the end
the of
terrorist menace.
"Considerable further mill. tary aid must be immediately forthcoming," the motion
ainted,—Reuter,
U.S. dollar declines further
A mild sensation was caus- ed in the money market yes- terday when the rate for Unit- ed States dollars dropped to HK$6.04.
There had been persistent rumours over the week-end that the bottom would fail out of the "greenbäcks "düo”
e to heavy off loading by certain interests; but It was not expected that it would
be lower than $6.10.
At
Actually the market opened $6.07% but with all sellors
and buyers, the rate quickly
dropped to $8.044.
Second plan to evacuate foreigners falls through
NATIONALIST REFUSAL REPORTED
British officials yesterday afternoon cancelled plans to evacuato
some 900 foreign nationals from Shanghai.
The Butterfield and Swire ship, ss. Anking, which had been awaiting orders to sail to Shanghai to pick up the evacuees, yesterday tied up at Taikoo docks and discharged more than 90 Shanghai-bound passen- gers,
This is the second time that evacuation plans from Shanghai have fallon
through within a month.
The Empire Mountain was Some sources said that it railed for nearly 20 hours by was not the Shanghai Com- Nationalist naval craft which munist officials who had balk- mistook her for her sister shiped this evacuation attempt, but The Empire Dirk, which carried that Nationalist authorities had to a Communist port some refused to grant the Anking HK$30,000,000 worth of CNAC safe conduct. and CATC aeroplane parts.
Relating the trip, personnel of The British freighter said that the Empire Mountain had her first "laste" of gunfire when she was steaming into Amby Harbour, on the evening of March 13, "Evid- port authorities did ently. the
i
In
what was probably the shortest maiden voyage on record, the. Anking, after two days in Kowloon Bay, returned dock after the plans. had been
cancelled.
to
the
The passengers were mostly women with children who were in Shanghai,
He added that no explanations on the negotiations wore being given because it might prejudlee future evacuation attempts."
Second, that the parsengers had } Nationalists had refused the An- no guarantee that they would be king safe conduct. sent Into Shanghai even if the Shanghat evacuees were allowed 10 leave the beleaguered city,
Third, that the ship while pass- ing through the Formosa stralis would be in a possible danger zone, and passengers would have to salt at their own risk.
Fourth, because of the danger of transferring passengers in the open sea, the ship retained the right to refuse to transfer women, and children, to lighter eraft.
In a brief announcement But- terfield and Swire stated: "The Chins Navigation. Company regret
Butterfield and Swire will re- fund the purchase price of the passenger's tickets.
When the General Gordon's evacuation trip was cancelled on March 20, many shipping officials reported that the evacuation had too much unfavourable publicity which caused the Shanghai- of- cials to cancel the plans.
not know of our arrival. Shore intending to join their husbands to announce that the it has proved Last minute
lintteries opened Bre at us. Dut fortunately, we were not hit," an Informent said.
Some 500 tons of sugar were loaded at that South China port.
While the British steamer was some 30 miles off Chusan Islands, a small Nationalist gunboat ac- costed her. Instructions to divert her course South were ignored.
"Mr. C. Douglas, our skipper, circled round which apparently puzzled the Nationalists who kept on following us," he recalled.
At 10 p.m., we signalled the Admiralty in Hong Kong inform- ing them about the Incident,
boarded
When the passengers the ship last Sunday afternoon, the ship had just received "agree ment in principle" from the Shanghai officials, it was report- cd.
inpossible to make the necessary arrangements for the Anking to Yangtse. While Chinese authori proceed to the mouth of the ties were favourable in principle to Issue safe conduct for the movement, the factors of timing have finally rendered it Impos-
Despite the fact that many ex-sible to carry out the plans." pressed fears that the ship might not sall, the final news came as a stinging blow to the passengers.
Several were reported to have refused to leave the ship yoster- day, preferring to remain aboard until today when they would begin once again decking accom- modations.
HMS Morecambe Bay reached us No guarantee
on the following morning.
"Another Nationalist. naval craft arrived an hour after HMS Morecambe Bay," he added.
Wanted a bargain
After an exchanga of signala, "the"contmander "of"the"British” sloop Informed Mr. Douglas that the Nationalist commander wanted to make a bargain. The Empire
The Far Eastern Represents- tive of the Ministry of Trans. port, Mr. D. F. Atten, was re- ported on Sunday to have told the passengera that the evacua tion trip was a semi-military operation, and that no guaran- tee of shy-abet-could-be-givan.. He was said by passengers to have made four points:
KMT refusal
..
One
source said yesterday that the officials made their mis- take in the Anking evacuation plana In concentrating all their efforts on obtaining Shanghal Clearance for the ship, and only at the last minute applying to the Nationalist officials for safe conduct.
Butterfield and Swire officials
It was reported that the Na. refused to comment yesterday on tionalist government had she reasons for the cancellation,
fused to clear tha sa. Anking, on the ground that they had not been given though time to clear the ship with the Nation. allet navy and ale force.
This action still leaves the 1,800 foreign nationals stranded in Shanghai,
Both American and British officials said yesterday that thay were going to press further with evacuation attempts,
An American Consular official that the entire sald_yesterday. evacuation problem was "ex- tremely complicated," but that the Consulate was leaving the omelal for the evacuation failure to Washington,
He would neither confirm or
Chines deny reports that the
First, he said that the Anking explanation Mountain was to all
'earance for Tinghal, where a substantial and not yet received
:d that be paid for her from both governments, oum would
the sailing time was in unite.
cargo of aeroplane 'parts. In the
afternoon I recovered slightly to $6.05.
"We replied that we had nise an offer to make, that is, the
aboard come
and
Transactions by TT were book-Nationalists ed between $6.0814 and. $8.001⁄21⁄2.
search "for the neroplane parts" Heavy off-loading by Kuomin- an officer related. ang interests of both gold and greenbocks was given as the rea- A launch was sent from HMS son for the heavy slump. The Morecambe Bay with About situation has been worsened by dozen fully armed ratings. an almost complete lack of by Nationalist officer and a rating ing interest, due to the deteriora were taken to the Empire Moun- ling trade situation.
lain by the launch.
JAP FINANCE MINISTER TO VISIT U.S.
„Tokyo, April 11, The Japanese Governinent "un- nounces today that "upon tho recommendation of General Mac- Arthur, the Government has de- cided to despatch the Finance Minister, Mr. Ikeda, to the United States to Inspect financial and monetary conditions as well as to study the taxallon system and tax collections.”
The statement ànid that Ikeda might leave at any time, and would stay in Ancien for three weeks,
Ikeda would make the trip in the official capacity of Finance Minister-Reuter,
The Weather
A10000 CMT (3) DM. BRBT) the - depression" "witch" was i formför Bouth" of Okinawa" has deepenid, vitehttp Tandli moving North East Pepesure, ja high tổ the East, gỗ Japan2"
Today's Forecast Light, or moderate Easterly winde. Orareas, ocasional light »kráin (beli delazia, Constal for spatebat,
Chatliqlik, mijade he
Á
"When he found that we had only sugar, the officer apologised profusely and left us,” he said.
The Empire Mountain proceed."
U.S. military aid
Thailand
grant for
Bangkok, April 11.
The United States has granted $10,000,000 worth of arms and other military aid to a Thailand threatened by Communism, Premier Phibu! Songgram disclosed today.
ed on her way that evening and This was the first concrete manifestation of deci-
reached Tsingtao and Dairen without meeling further trouble er route.
sions reached, at the Bangkok conference in 1. February.
infiltration Dr. Philip C. Jessup, U.S. ernment resist Ambassador-at-Largo, sel forth Communists, the Premier said.
The exact time and method of the there of
Businessmen in Ing military assistance to Asian delivery was not disclosed
.
Japan taking case to U.S.
nations displaying the will to stand against the Communist
Calls on Premier
by
Shanghal last night on the can cellation of the evacuation plans. However, it had been previously reported that the Shanghai ova- cuces. had sold for a fraction of cost price, much of their house- hold and personal belonginga
Same, who had given up their apartments, were living with friends.
0.
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PAKISTAN, INDIAN PREMIERS MEET
Indian Premier, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru' conferred with Pakistan Premier, Linqust All Khan In Delhi, India, in an effort to and rallious strife and consequant refugee problema in East and West Bengal. Photo shows: Premier Nehru (right) wel. comes. the yiiqting Pakistan Premier at the airport (A. P. Photo), (TE
Peking denial of famine deplored
The report from Paking by a correspondent yes- terday that no fomine exists in China' has Chingismably - perplexo foreign obsartem in Hong Kong,
These observers said the Communist authorities
.
were the first people to indicate that condi- tions of famine exist in the interior. · An an- nouncement to this effect was made less than five weeks ago by the Vice-Premier, Mr. Tung Pi-wu
Hainan victory claim
Taipeh, April 11:
The Nationalist defence headquarters on Hainan Island claimed today that land,' soa, and air forces killed or cap- tured nearly 10,000 Chinese Communists in the past week.
Ground forces on the big Nationalist-held island off the South China const were credited with capturing 5,000 Reds and killing another 500.
The Navy claimed more than 2,000 Red casualties" and more than 200 prisoners. It said the fled losses were suffered in the -sinking of 40 junks trying to reach Hainan from the mainland. The Air Force summary sald 1,000 Reds were killed, 280 Red junks destroyed and numerous gun emplacements blasted on Lui- chow Peninsula in more than 100 flights during the week.
Kal
Generallélmo Chlang shak today presided at a meet- Ing in Taipeh of the top com. mand of all ́branches of the military services. He called for Increasing Intelligence activity on the mainland, more efficient administration and batter-oFT ganisation.
Chiang told his land, sea and air commanders that much pro- gress had been made in reor- ganisation but warried that still moro "driftwood" must bo eliminated.
He reiterated that ability-nati political connections-must be the fret consideration in choosing personnel and in the assignment of duties.
Air challenge
Nationalist warplanes few over Shanghai and other coastal cities yesterday In an open challenge to new. Chinese Communist air- craft, but did not encounter any, despatches from Chusan Island reported today, adds Associated Press
Besides Shanghat the Nationalist planes flew over Nanking, Seo- chow and Hangchow.
+
Not one enemy plane was sighted either in the air or un the ground, the reports stated. On the way back to their base ufter their fuldless mission, thạ Nationaliai pieger sarik two troops Haden...Communist Junkersof wa Red-held island nearby.—United Press and Associated Press.
On Other Pages
Correspondence
Eclipse of British Communists
Mr. Tung told a Relief Com-to reject Western nasistance with A Consular official said last mission on February 27: We as much grace as possible.
In either case, the basest form night that while that poealbility are faced with a serious wer _of_evacuation_from_lentein against spring famine. China of politics would appear to be the might accommodats some foreign now has 7,000,000 Taming re- motive for the original reports of the famine Nationalist pro- nationals
from Shanghal,fugees quoted a proverb: "It is
paganda, to embarrass the Com- would take "many months" for
He also
at the expense of the municte all who wished to leave Chins the tail of the famine, rather than people,
if Communist propaganda, on blockade-running ships to do the head that should be dreaded."; to solicit any but Western help.
that because He warned his Yearers that the
One source sold would be
the Russians are unable to help, Page B He added: "Perhaps, according next three months
After that, the June har-Communist propaganda prefers to to the amount of passenger space
Tientsin, no, more than 100 a month could be accommodated, and then only if the Communist officials co-operated to the fullest extent with foreigners' evacuation plans,
crucial
***
Pago 2