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VOL. II NO. 138
The
HONGKONG TELEGRAPE, For and on behalf of
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LIIL
Straubl
Bristen and Rublebar
Hongkong Telegraph.
URGENT NEED FOR
Thames
Valley Flooding
London, Mar. 13. Danger warnings were flashed to villoges along the up- per Thames to-day as 12 hours of slent, rain and melting snow banks pushed at least five major rivers out of their banks and flooded dozens of towns in - Middle and Southern England.
The Thames at Windsor, three feet above normal, had already Blooded part of the Castle grounds and was rising an inch an hour. de. Soaring temperatures, up to trees in some sections. sent snow water pouring into small tributaries, Thousands of acres of farmland were under water and lifeboats were called out to rescue families off by rising foods in isolated dis- tricts.
cut
COAL
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1947.
MINERS
England Facing Big Industrial Setback
London, Mar. 13.
Britain faces a greater industrial setback than there has been this winter, unless at least 35,000 more men enter the coal industry in the near future, Mr Arthur Horner, General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, told United Press in an exclu- sive interview.
This 52-year-old stocky, bespectacled Communist, a member of the General Council of the Trade Union Con- press and one of the most dynamic personalities in British trade unionism, was the only public man who prophesied several months ago that this winter an unprecedented coal crisis would cause a large scale industrial breakdown and the unemployment of 1,000,000 men.
Incentives.
to
The far
the
soldiern
work In For years Horner has urged the Polish Government to trike action to bring pits. und there bad
consultations about no here men to the mines, by Improving | been condhious and offering them specil employment of any other foreigners. ut do not believe foreigners could be welded into the manpower of this country in any large numbers," Mt on grounds Horner said. "Firstly,
vir miners are of Ideology, for not very progressive und unanimously
I' do onti-Fascist. Secondly, Rethink suffiolent will volunteer."
The simple fact is that the less than 700,000 men now working in The police rowed to the front door the mining industry are quite in- of a house at Knotty Green and sufficient to produce the county's
said. "D rescued a family which had awaken-red of cual." be
The one he miners for the col crisis ed to find six feet of water
they are out to the last inch, living room.
Itailroads, which were contending cent production figures prove that. with new blizzards in North Eng And 150,000 of them are land and Scotland, had to curtail years of age." services to the South becnusu washouts. The southern railway line from London to Brighton was blocked by landslides of thousands of tons of chalk, loosened by the thaw and continuous rain.
of
Over 50
Mr Horner said that 730,000 ten would give the ming industry an "effective manpower" of 085,000, na the nature of the work made it physically Impossible for a miner le guarantee to work the full number of days a week. In addition, one in every four miners was injured every
CUT OFF BY BLIZZARD Scotland was almost cut off from England by a blizzard und the Lake | year. District of Northern England ported its heaviest snowfall of the
winter.
re-
Drifts of 14 feet blocked all but one main road from England to Scotland. Passengers buses and at least one
Attracting tuen into the coal In- dustry was Britain's most vital pro- biem of the moment, Mr Horner said. The National Union of Mineworkers find definite ideas how this could several be done, which he and other Union train spent representatives placed before
the the night trapped in snowdrifts in Prime Minister and his Emergency high mountain passes in Edinburgh. Conl Committee. A busload of 13 girls, who were wearing.only thin dance frocks, was
of
snow
workers, had attended a dance at which the "Laundry Queen" of Scotland was elected."
Besides the Thames, the Rom "Willard," Ouse" "bhd Pinn" were break- ing through their banks and villages were reported under water in tha
WAGES INSUFFICIENT
"The
nsk a
present weekly minimuni
Jost and rescue parties were march- ing through
blinding a storm. The girls, ali laundry wuge of £5 for underground work and 24 10s for work above ground is not enough," Mr Horner Bald. "Personally I think that, by to day's standards, a miner's work is worth 10a week, but we are not-going-to-
for that. But
we want an all- crease of £2 a
week.
You week to-day to maintain a family."
14, minimum of £7 a Berkshire, Essex and Kent. Breaks
He recalled that, before the war, In land transportation delayed de- liveries of copí, but the casing of
Britain's miners had been 86th from gales in the Channel allowed collier the top in the list of the country's Shipments to return to normal wage rates. United Press.
Suffolk fenlands, Wiltshire, Surrey,
CHURCHILL TO
WARN GOVT.
|
AIL
On no account, he said, would the union allow any foreigners to br directed into the industry. would have lo join voluntarily. "In all cases of employment of foreig ners, the union will insist on the most complete assurances
that the utilisation of such n labour force would not be used to circumvent the status of the British nineworker," Mr Horner said.
Asked about the possible empley- ment of German prisoners of war, Mr-Horner said: "We have told if individual the Government that
of war volunteer for prisoners minework, we have no objection to must accepting them. But they volunteer, must be accepted as union members and must work under union conditions. We shall not tolerate forced prisoner labour."
mine coal in the Ruhr Saar.
“RIDICULOUS"
and
Postage Stamps U.S.
Arrive
Tho Postmaster-Ceneral announced this morning that
a quantity of postage stamps in demoninations of 50 cents, $1, $2 and $5 has just arrived. The stamps are now available for public sale.
The consignment com- prises: 25 cents-54,000; 50 cents-246,000; $1- 442,680; $2-9,600; $5- 60,720. More stamps of similar denominations
arc
on the way, and officials are confident there will be no future shortages.
The stamps have been on order for many months past, but their despatch from England has been delayed.
Dine
At the
P.G.
For
Reservations
Price 20 Conts
Tel: 27880
CONTEMPLATING
AID TO HUNGARY
Reactions To Truman's Speech
State
de, Mr
Washington, Mar. 13. The United States Government has under consideration various possible means of extending additional economic assistance to Hungary, Reuter learned authoritatively to-day..
officials Department
Truman's speech. Associated, hearings. The plan is for the house ellaed to comment upon their con- Press.
to not first on the proposals-pro- tinuing programme of economic_ald Ing: "It is hoped that arrangements viding U.S.$400,000,000 in cash and to Hungary or to relate it to Pre- can be concluded at an early date authorising Indirect military help.
economile ald sident Truman's
of under which further expression United States delermination to pre- for Hungary will be forthcoming."— vent the subjection of free people Reuter. to Cominunist-Inspired totalitarian regimes.
TROOPS FOR GREECE
Truman's
They recalled, however, that when
Athens, Mar. 13. granting to the Hungarian Govern-
Official Greek spokesmen said that tor request ment the $15,000,000 increase in sur- President plus property credit last month, the United States military and civilian Department issued a statement say-personnel" to be sent to Greece must he Interpreted us implying the even- tual arrival to American troops. In
Soviets Still Hankering For China Discussion
Greece.
The future of British military and police missions in Greece would be. a matter for agreement between Britain and the United States, they said.
The Greck inner cabinet met this morning to draft a message to the Greek people, announcing President Truman's proposals
What the House does will largely determine wherever the deadline is met, despite plans laid by the Senate lenders. Associated Press.
PRESS ASTONISHED
London, Mar. 13, The British press is astonished' at the bluntness of President Truman's message in. Congress and the far- Tenching change in the United States policy which It implies. On whole, reaction is favourable.
the
The Independent Times says that the request for $400,000,000 to help Greece and Turkey' was bold and the arguments with which he sup- ported it were bolder stil. • ន speech will reverberate widely, and hot the least in Moscow, where its effect should be at least to increase the candour and realism of
the
GENERAL MARSHALL'S ATTITUDE Type space in the singie Foreign Ministers discussion. It
Moscow, Mar, 14.
Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov asked the United States and Britain to discuss the Chinese question in- formally. This was confirmed by the Soviet Radio after reports were heard that Mr Molotov had sent a note on the subject to the U.S. Secretary of State George C. Mar- shall and the British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin.
Threats
Screamed In
Assembly
Paris, Mar. 13.
Both American and British sources were ollent on the situation which it is believed would not be received with opon arms by the two Western powers since they had already rebuffed Mr. Malotoy's attempt to place the Chinese question on the agends of the Foreign Ministers' Council.
On the Chinese question Marshall had taken the stand that if China was discussed in Council, China must be present,
+
The Moscow radio said Russia had
Mr Heraer said he believed that, The explosive French Na- in principle, those German pri- soners able to work in coal miries, tional Assembly debate on the not objected to a proposal that a should be speedly repatriated to war in Indo-China to-day broke Chlua representative attend the pro-
the up in an uproar when Rightist | posed meeting.
deputies screamed-threats at a Molotov's insistence on discussing Viet-Namh-representative ait the China question was believed by rome observers to be motivated by ting in the Visitors' Gallery.
the desire to press an attack against Commenting on the possibility of government's importing of displaced The presence of the representative, the United States foreign policy on as well as the persons and other foreigners to work Dhuong Bac May, was discovered all fronts-Eurupe in Britain's coal mines, Mr Horner by a Right Wing deputy just after Orient. entd this was "ridiculous pro- former premier Paul Reynoud had position." He added: "There have denounced him by name from the been no conversations on this sub-door as the "bloody hangman re-
consulted my union in any way, nor have we sanctioned the employment of these people."
According
SUSTAINED ATTACKS
page of Athens newspapers prevent may also ed much comment on President their scope. Truman's message but his ment was reported under banner headlines.Reuter.
state-
EQUIPMENT FOR TURKEY
Istanbul, Mar. 13.
with advantago
extend
"Arm American policy wl, be very far from being aggressive and if it brings greater security to the world it will security benefiting all without exception."
The Conservative Daily Telegraphi Some of the old by President thinks that President Truman has Truman in his message to Congress shown penetrating insight into the last night will be used to provide needs of the moment and has taken the Turkish Army with modern a bold and courageous step- in equipment to enable it to "face eff-Immediately appealing to Congress clently any emergency and to remain to meet the nation's responsibilities the Middle East bastion of free na-with appropriate action." Lions", official sources declare in Ankara to-day.
DISTURBING PESSIMISM
The Arst reactions to President The Labour Dally Herald, urging
on ali- Americans that the only cer Truman's speech are summed up by
as follows: tain way to avold war is to work one Turkish observer Although the Turks arc. resolved for unity among the great powers, if need be to oppose the Soviet says that the most disturbing aspret claims alone with an army of 1,000- of President Truman's statement is 000 they never doubted that Bri- its pessimism, tish and American sympathies would eventually crystalise into such ma- terial support,
American credits will also be used to strengthen Turkish economy and speed up the Industrialisation plans,
-Reuter,
The
on
./
what extent "The question is to will the American people as a whole accept the thesis that the well-being of the world rests mainly upon the might of the United States as a coun-- ter-force to the might of Russia?
"If that belief takes hold of America and is matched as it will be by increasing hostility in Russia -the prospect of an armed clash, be-“ tween the two greatest powers on earth becomes frighteningly clear.
Other incentives would also have ject, and the government have not{sponsible for the murder of French | Ministers' Council found the Soviet President Herry Truman's proposal. And such a'clash in the atom, oge
Ket
The
to be offered by the government to the required manpower, he said, coal field had to have absolute housing priority, as well as priority" of
At pre scarce consumer goods. sent, Mr Horner sald, men preferred to draw
unemployment benent to working in the mines.
London, March 13. Mr Winston Churchill, Opposition Leader, is to be asked to warn Mr
Mr Horner said his union was Clement Allee, Prime Minister, strongly opposed to directing men that unless an assurance is received
to work in the mines. Mining was Chat the Labour Government will
a skilled job and only willing men Bovern
that could dis it. He pointed out, how constitutionally and Labour Ministers net within the law, ever, that miners wore at present 11 will be the duty of the Opposition prevented from leaving the industry to place the facts before the pubile by the Essential Works Order.
and recommend them to petition the King to dissolve Parliament.
One thousand delegates to the con- Union of ference of the National Conservative Associations heard a to the member to-day recommend Executive Council of the Union that this request should be made to Mr Churchil-Beuter,
EDITORIAL
men".
statement is the Com-.
ACTION TO BE SOUGHT
Washington, Mar. 14. Senate Republican leaders The opening day of the Forelgh arranged for an early decision
bolster Grecce Epokesman making sustained attack to
and Turkey would finally destroy our alck civi- lisation," it declares." Deputy Jean Legendre of the He-on many subjects against the United against communism, publican Party of Liberty (PRL) Sn-States.
President Truman's They will seck, action on the pro- roundly condemned by to Mr Horner, those mediately shouted, "And there the
key posal by March 31, when the Bri-munist Daily Worker," "Stripped of Since Marshall had been a displaced persons who are in good murderer Is-throw him out!". Ho health were mainly Nazis and pointed to Dhuong, who was sitting figure in the making of the Ameri- tish plan to retrench.
its verbiage, the President's speech Fascists, whom the unton would not blank-faced among the spectators.
can policy in China, the latest at agree to have in the industry. Those
Molotov move also was aimed Other PRL members took up the Marshall and it was expected that the Republican Policy
Senator Robert Taft, Chairman of means that Greece and Turkey are with a democratic outlook had been cry,
Committee to become colonial appendages
of the United States," it asserts. so badly treated that it would take prison", "He comes to gloat",
the outspoken President Truman's announced that March 31 is "n Arm Address would likely'spur the Soviet many months to rehabilitate them.
date" by which the administre dollars is to save the tottering art
"The real purpose of the American campaign.
wants congress, to Mr Horner said that whatever the
rulers complete trend of future events would be,
action.
of Greece and dictators of Turkey his union would insiste
Up to a late hour the Chinese
and to drive back the advancing Senater Arthur Vandenburg, forces of Democracy. There is Do word of invitation by Chairman of the Foreign Relations
more reason why the United States Government would consider u con- for a deadline in announcing plans and Turkey as protection against the ference
without China, an in- for his group to hold public hear-
Soviet Union than the Soviet Union ings.
should be interested in seizing Cuba and Mexico as protection against the United States."—Reuter.
three
"Assassin",
"Throw him
TUMULTOUS
in
neations for any fareigner allowed from the left of the Chamber, "Stay" heard a
The Communists began shouting Mission in Moscow said it had not
biowledge of English. both) a "He has a right" "Stick to your Molotov, but it also said the Chinese Committee also set the same date should be interested in seizing Greece
to work in British mines: OPPOSES FOREIGN LABOUR
as the employ rights", Though Mr Horner fully rement of any one not knowing the cognises the need for more men in language in coal mine might cause Britain's coni mines, he is strongly a serious disaster; (2) that there against the use of foreign labour. would have to be no compulsion; (3) that all men working in the mines Only under the greatest pressure and strictest safeguards had his would have to be trained for their union agreed to allow former job.
Ho
The Budget And Income Tax FR Follows' budget speech'yesterday was a superb example of ausve MR A readjustment, between gloomy prediction and happy, realiention. depressingly forecast 12 months ago that Hongkong would face a defiolt of $110,000,000 de March 31; in fact. It turns out be less than half that amount On recurrant Items for the coming year the Financial Secretary estimates that he can balance the budget. In view of Mr Follows' well- known cautiousness, the colony can'confidently expect the final ourplus to bo substantially blader. He cave, of course, the usual warningat no aur. plus balances.,no reserve,fund...unknown dable of, the past...the dan ger of an economic stump. But even those throats could not rob the speech of its most important conclusion: that the colony is much better off financially than our experts expected..
Government's decision to float a loan to meet non-recurrent expondi ture is angible. It helps to spread liability and will absorb a certain Amount of idle capital one of the biggest Inflationary threats confronting the colony to-day. Nevertheless, "pleasing though the estimateă, are in general form, there is room for justifiable criticism. Revenue, designed to give a credit balance by the and of the financial year includes an estimated $16,000,000 from Income tax. That figure in Itsel? is sufficient fo deny the necessity or desirability of direct taxation." Mr Follows tacitly admits that his revenus estimates are once again based on conservatism that not only are they capable of being well exceeded, but that it is more than possible a number of expenditure items will be much less than forecast: ie is conceivable that finally Government will require only about half of the $15,000,000 earmarked in income tax contribution, and it is futilesto suggest that any such amount could not be raised by alternativa methods. The 1947-48, budget should give both the Taxation Committes and the e. Ekodutive Council pauan to think.bofora.they dealdo, on any Irrevocable da-
'alalan regarding the imposition of direct taxation..
The ensuing tumult rivalled that fringement on China's sovereignty. of the last session of the debate on Tuesday night, when fatfights bo- Persons who attended the meet- ween Right and Left deputies forced ing, said no mention was made of suspension until this afternoon.
He said Britain's miners were poll when the threats began, but when Dhuong got up and started to leave tically conscious and placed the general need of the working class defend you. Stay," he
the Communists shouted, "We will above their own temporary advan-
sol dow: the Chamber tage. But though the coal mines again. All eyes in were now nationalised under a La- turned to him. He shifted uneasily bour Government, his union remained in his seat, but otherwise showed no completely independent and reserved emotion. He remained silent as the its freedom of action to improve the tumult grew louder on the floor. status of its members.—United Press. Finally, the session was suspender
by
President, M1 Assembly the Edouard Herriot, and the door to thi Visitors' Gallery was bolted by puties could reach the Viet Namh representative.
HONOUR FOR guards so none of the enraged de-
LUCY WANG
of
י
He suggested that the house of the Foreign Affairs Committee also hold
“VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM” TO
NANKING REPORTED.
Washington, Mar. 13.
The Scripps-Howard newspapers to-day published their own report from China that UNRRA has issued a "virtual
WHAT-TASS. THINKS.......
Moscow, Mar. 14. Taxs, clrculating to the Russian press the first account of President Truman's speech, declared: "frankly It is directed against the democratio elements In Greece." -Associated Press.
ultimatum" to the Nanking Government to deliver 20,000 WHEAT, MEAT
tona of relief goods to the Chinese Communists by March 31, or face curtailment of the whole Chinese aid programme..
FOR BRITAIN
The report said Yenan insists on examine the situation on March 33 reling 46 per cent of the total and see what netlon has been done, CORRIDORS WRANGLE UNRRA allotment for China on the but it is not a must figure,
London, Mar. 13. ground that that is the ratio of the He estimated the Communists' re-
The Food Minister, Mr John Stza- There was no escape for Dheung Chinese population living in Com-ceived only two to three percent of chey, just back from Washington Boston, Mar. 13. even if he did not take up the Communist-held areas
UNRRA supplies sent to China,' and and Canada, told a press conference Boston University to-day con- munist challenge to "stay like" ,N The ferred the honorary degree of mun."
Scripps-Howardi
dispatch need medical supplies and clothing that he had arranged for enough The deputies continued to quotes Maj-Gen Lowell Recks as nd-more than food..
deliveries of meat and wheat to sus- Doctor of Humanities on Miss shout at each other in the corridors. mitting that pressure was being up- The report said the UNRRA pro- tain Britain's present. austerity
Wang, Lucy
přesident
Several of them had black eyes from plied on the Chinese Government gramine for China is now 06 percent ratione. Tuesday's scuffling.
to provide vellet goods to the Com completed with $350,000,000 worth Co denied that there was any algn Hwanan College, Foochow, and' The Communista · insisted that num'sts, but insists there was no of relief delivered from an alleen of a food crisis for Britain in the one of China's most dis- Noung carried a diplomatic pass-ultimatum.
tion of $529,000,000. Of the $135,- next few months, unless conditions port and had committed no irregu Gen Rooks was quoted as saying: 600,000 food programme 00 percent radically, allured, which he did not tinguished educators.
Miss Wang is a descendant of five larity to justify his expulsion from "We have issued no ultimatum. We has been completed
but only 35 expect. have of Chinese scholars, the Chamber, generations
not said we would cut them perce
medical: supowever, following his percent of
of $40,000,000
usual the Chinese Communists piles and only 37 percent of the practice, he would not predlot when She is a graduate of the University Dhoung is one of two diplomatie off, but of Michigan.
representatives in the permanent have received very little and we are $80,000,000 agricultural rehabilita bread and most rationing would end, When the Japanese overran her Viet Narah mission which the Viet trying to get them more,
Uon programme has been delivered, He expressed hope that bread college, she carried on in the interior Namh president Ho Chi Minh left in "In protesting to the Chinesa Go- Final UNRRA shipments to China rationing might end this summer, of the country by moving much Paris after negotiations last year vernment that it has not lived up to must leave the United States before but admitted; "It is just a hope,” equipment there.-Associated Press, United Press,"
commitments, we` zald We would June 30 United Press.
United Press.