THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950.

TWO UNKNOWN FACTORS QUEEN

Uncertainty In World Political Scene

Chinese Intentions And

Future Russian Policy

London, Dec. 21.

Uncertainty caused by two unknown factors dominates the scene of world politics in the last few weeks of 1950. One of these factors is the future Chinese intentions in Korea.

The other is the likely Soviet response to an agreement by the Western Powers to attend a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers with a broad agenda.

In the face of these two uncertainties, opinion among the big anti-Communist Governments is divided in its

basic attitude, even if agreed on immediate policy.

Korea or attempt ne- similar to the gotiations is problem facing the Soviet Union of whether to agree to a broad general conference on the whole future of Germany and Austria, and if so of whether to agree to it

with the intention of

making it a success.

In Europe, for instance, the South Western Powers are all agreed that they should tell the Soviet Union that they are willing to agree to a four-power official level conference to try to work out an agenda for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers' Council, But they are less agreed on the basic analysis of the world situation which led make this move.

The French Government still nurse the hope that a fundamen- tal world agreement might, after all, result from a fresh meeting with the Soviet Union if this could be brought about.

RAILWAY

DISPUTE

SETTLED

Washington, Dec. 21. The Government today an- nounced settlement of the rail under an agreement which covers 300,000 members and gives a wage increase of 23. cents an hour to yard workers and five cents an hour to road men, retroactive to Oct. 1.

Peking and Moscow, no less than the West, are faced, at dispute, them to

the end of 1950 when Com munist policy has brought the world nearer to a hot war than at any time since the end of World War II, with a critical policy decision.

BRITISH SCEPTICISM

In Britain, though the general attitude is more sceptical, im- portant political groups, both Labour and Conservative, hold the same view.

The United States Adminis- tration clearly believes that the prospect of a genuine under-

Russia, standing with

which would end the division of Ger- many on terms which left the free Government subsequent from Communist pressure,, ruled.out..

ds

The Far East presents a simi- lar problem. In the period in which the world waited for Communist China's reply to the appeal made by the bloc of Asian countries for a cease-fire, Britain and the United States ware agreed, following top-level talks in Washington, to make a military stand south of the 38th Parallel and to try to end the conflict through negotiation.

But this agreement again masked a difference of approach similar to that which charac- berised the attitude of the powers to Russia.

IN THE DARK Britain believed that the Korean conflict could and should be terminated by talks follow- ing a cease-fire and the creation of a buffer zone.

The United States was more doubtful, believing that even if the Chinese Government even- that it was tually indicated willing to agree to a cease-fire, raised the. negotiations which

status question-

the of. Formesa would be bound to fail. which followed In the lull

talks in

the Truman-Attlee

of

Washington and the re-estab-

They have, in fact, to decide how to make the next move in the cold war--round the con- ference table, through diplo- matic channels or by the build-

up

'Black Diamond'

In Korea

Tokyo, Deo. 21.

Along the ice-edged roads of Korea tonight, the black diamond sign of the New Zealand.” Division, /-* famed throughout Marth Africa and Italy-is doing Its old job of guiding "Kiwi" vehicles to their dispersal areas.

The New Zealand Divi- sion's vehicles, guns and ammunition arrived at a Korean port today and to- night vehicles were coming from hatches at the rate of 40 an hour.

At the end of a steep, winding and deeply-rutted track leading from the docks, drivers welcomed the familiar diamond sign. It represented, as if had done in so many other lands, refuge.-Renter.

Tito Prepares New Laws

Belgrade. Dec. 21. Marshal Tito met his full Cabinet for the first time in months today to discuss far- reaching new laws which Parliament will approve during its December 29-31 session.

Reliable sources said the dis-

cussion included the new econo-.

The Presidential assistant, John Steelman, announced the settlement after a round-the- clock bargaining session. The carriers agreed to the principle, of a 40-hour week for yard men but the contract set this aside of military positions in until January 1952 in deference Eastern Europe and Korea, to tightening manpower regula-mic law

The period of uncertaintytions. When the 40-hour week gives no hint that either capital finally goes into effect, all yard is thinking in terms of ending men will receive an extra four the cold war and so of elimina-cents an hour. ting in the New Year the danger of a world conflict-Reuter,

Woman Gets

Carrier negotiators estimated that the contract would cost them $130,000,000 yearly. They had no comment on the re- sulting effect on passenger and freight rates, but they will prob- ably ask the Inter-State Com- merce Commission to increase rates United Press.

Defence Job Peking Turns

Washington, Dec, 21.

The Senate today confirmed the appointment of Hungarian- born Mrs Anna M. Rosenberg

Assistant as

Secretary of Defence, despite earlier allega- tions of Communist sympathies.

The Senate Armed Services Committee had twice unanimous ly recommended such action.

To Pakistan

For Cotton

Karachi, Dec. 21. Communist China has ordered 40,000 bales of raw cotton from Pakistan since Evidence that she had Com- the United States imposed munist associations 15 years ago a ban on all exports to was rejected by the Committee

Mrs Rosenberg said China, Karachi trade circles as false, that it was a case of mistaken said today. identity.

Hongkong mills, now cut Mrs Rosenberg was born in off from United States sup- Hungary 49 years ago. She will act as Manpower Authority plies, were all understood to under the Defence Secretary, be placing orders for Pakis- General George Marshall, who tani cotton.-Reuter. personally asked that she should

be given the post.

She had been serving for a Abdullah In Baghdad

year

month in the $15,000 a post under a temporary .ap- pointment.-Reuter.

lishment of a United Nations Master Plan For

a

military line in Korea after

Western perilous retreat, the Powers were completely in the dark about the Chinese inten- tions.

Civil Defence

Washington, Dec. 21.

A master plan for civil de- The diplomatic initiative fence, designed to prepare the and United States to deal with the then rested with Peking the "neutral" group in the dangers and problems of atomic attack, was approved by the United Nations.

doubt House of Representatives yes-

terday and sent to the Senate. The legislation establishes

Civil Defence Ad- Federal

to direct a pre- ministration paredness programme expected to cost $3,100 million over a three-year period.-Reuter.

In fact, there is no that the two unknown factors, in East and West, of Chinese inten- intentions and Soviet tions, which face the Atlantic Powers with separate problems in Korea and Germany, are es- sentially one problem.

CHINA'S PROBLEM One plausible explanation of the delay in an indication from Peling of any clear intention about the Korean campaign is the need for Russia and China to concert their policies.

Viewed from the other side, the problem facing China of whether to drive to the sea in

THE HOT SPOT

2

Durban, Dec. 21. Twenty-nine-year-old

Jack Nun. stowed away In the funnel of the Australia Star until the heat became too much for him 12 hours out of Fremantle, Aus- tralia, and he gave himself up.

Reuter,

Baghdad, Dec, 21. King Abdullah of Jordan arrived in Baghdad today.- Reuter,

JEST A MINUTE!

By GEOFFREY EVANS

This year's too llttiu* money chasing 2 let of too dear Christmas fara 1*

which will make a great change in the economic structure of the country. A pro- fit-sharing plan aimed at stimu- lating work and interest in pro- duction will also be introduced. -United Press.

Mr Bevin Mum

ww

London, Dec. 21.

Mr Ernest Bevin, the Foreign Secretary, declined to comment. on his talks in Brussels when he returned to London today.

"I do not think I should add anything to the communique,” he declared-Reuter.

LIBERTY

Air-Conditioned

HARRY SHERMAN presents

The Spectacular Romance Of America's Greatest Adventure!

>>

*:

SHOWING TO

2.30, 5.15, 1:20

9.30 P.M.

St-G-M prents

BALA NEW MUSICAL

THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS

GRAYSON

ARZA-1

TAR

Phone

5833

17 Hankow Road, Kowloon. * SHOWING TO-DAY. * At 2.30, 5.15, 7.20 & 9.30 p.m.

WOMEN WITHOUT THEIR MEN...

At the Mercy of

MEN WITHOUT.

THEIR WOMEN!

BARRYL F. ZANUCK

THREE

CAME

HOME

CLAUDETTE COLBERT

PATRIC KNOWLES FLORENCE DESMOND - SESSIE BAYANAMA - *JEAN NEGULESCO NUNNALLY ADAMSON

NEXT CHANGE Cecil B. De Mille's “Northwest Mounted

Police"

In Technicolor

COMING

ATTRACTION

AMERICAN EMPIRE

BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW OR OLD SEWING MACHINE

COME AND TRY OURS

Standard Sewing

Machine Co.

29 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong. Tel. No. 33771.

A.B.C. Sewing Machine Co.

1227, Canton Road, (Near Prince Edward Rd.) Kowloon. Tel. No. 57619

EXPERT

SEWING MACHINE REPAIRERS

三菱牌

MITSUBISHI

SEWING MACHINES

FOR SALE

WITH 10 YEARS GUARANTEE

Share This Page