CONFIDENTIAL
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THE WEST
As the demonstrations in Europe got under way more and more of the Reference News was given over to descriptions of the scene in various capitals. Much the most attention was given to France. In many issues French demonstrations occupied the whole of the front page and most of the back page. Such a lavish coverage is unprecedented in the period since January. The unrest in West Germany, Italy, Britain, North America and even Denmark was also reported.
HONG KONG
There were two reports about Hong Kong in the period under review. The first came in the Reference News of 28 May which quoted an article in the Hong Kong Wen Hui Pao of 25 May about a day-long strike by Kowloon taxi drivers as a protest against "oppression" by the Hong Kong authorities. This "oppression" took the form of interference with normal duties, and the taking away of licenses.
The Reference News of 1 June had a couple of articles about the protest by female peasants at Lowu on 29 May against some tear gas which had blown over from a government range. The bulletin quoted an excerpt from a UPI report of 29 May and a Reuters report of 30 May. The peasants were said to have put up posters at the police station at Lowu and to have torn down the British flag. They were beaten back by the police.
CAPTAIN POPE
Reference News of 29 May carried extracts from a statement by Hong Kong Marine Department of 25 May about the arrest of
Captain Pope.
MIDDLE EAST
The Reference News quoted reports that President Nasser had received a letter from President Johnson in the early part of May. This was in reply to a letter which Nasser sent to the heads of government of all the Security Council countries. The contents of the letter were not revealed. The bulletin also described a visit by the Jugoslav Deputy Foreign Minister to Cairo during which agreement was reached to stage a meeting of non-aligned countries in New Delhi in June or July. All of these reports implied Chinese dissatisfaction with the UAR.
By contrast the Syrians were quoted arguing that a peaceful solution to the Middle East problem was impossible and that the only way to resolve the problem was by defeating the Israelis in battle. There were reports about attempts by the various Palestine Liberation Organisations to achieve unity. Delegates to a recent meeting were said to have agreed that a nation-wide assembly should be sent up for the Palestinians.
The Reference News reported a statement by President Bourguiba calling for a three-stage solution to the Middle East problem including the occupation of disputed territory by UN forces. The report was accompanied by hostile headlines. Another article in a later issue accused Bourguiba of pursuing a "twe Chinas plot".
INDIA
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CONFIDENTIAL
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