4407510
48
-7 SEP 1949
27.
x
Cypher/OTP
POLITICAL DISTRIBUTION
FROM SHANGHAI TO FOREIGN OFFICE
His Majesty's Consul General
No.734
D.10.48 a.m. 31st August, 1949. 31st August, 1949. R.1 .23 p.m. 31st August, 1949.
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Nanking telegram No.436 of 31st August repeated for information to Foreign Office, Singapore of
Hong Kong
On August 30th local authorities ordered foreign news agencies to discontinue work
as from the end of August. Publisher of the North China Daily News obtained ruling from Director of Foreign Affairs Bureau that the paper could continue to monitor and publish Reuters despatches but that they "must be careful". He said that private circulation of Reuters despatches must stop.
2. Cost of running Reuters organisations here costs the paper 1600 United States dollars a month of which 1300 is guaranteed by British Chamber of Commerce by way of subscriptions for private circulation. Paper cannot continue without this income.
3. Moreover, the publisher refuses to "be careful" over publication of foreign news and is not prepared to work according to threats/implied indirectly. He has therefore decided to announce on September 1st that the order of August 30th obliges him to
discontinue publication. This should facilitate discharge of the workers.
2+
It is possible that the authoritics mean only to compel associated Press to close. They have been indiscreet. But I agree with his proposal that time has come to make a stand and if it should appear that the authorities want the paper to continue to demand tolerable conditions.
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