1947-02-18 — Page 1

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VOL. II NO. 117

The

・For the Proprietor of HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,' For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING HOST, LID.

Aut

Bialer and Publisher

Ding

At the

Hongkong Telegraph...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1947.

Britain Seeks To Reopen

Troops Help Trade With Japan

To Move Coal

Britain's Growing Stocks

London, Feb. 17. Britain sent hundred of troops into the northern coal- fields on Monday to speed 'deli. veries of coal from fifty snow- bound mines to Industrial areas blacked out since last Monday by the nation's critical fuck famine.

More than six hundred army trucks were engaged in "Operation King Cole," latest effort to build up fuel stocki at power plants,

Thousand of other troops, German prisoners of war and members of the Polish resettlement corps tiled to clear colllery stdings and main Hne rallways for traffic.

A constant stream of ships from Welsh and northeast ports poured thousands of tons of coal into Lon- don and other big cities and all hut casential trame was cleared from rail lines to speed overland shipments. Though reports indicated A gene- ral Improvement in the supply nosl tion, there wan still no indication when electricity would be restored to industrial and "domestic consumers.

MEETING TO-DAY

Jap. Captain

To Die

Saigon. Feb. 17. The death sentence was passed to-day by a French military tribunal here on o Japanese officer, Captain Furukawa. convicted On

charges of beheading 40 French prisoners and tor- assassinating turing, and two others.

A Japanese sergeant, charged with complicity in the beheading, who was not in court, was also sentenced to death in his absence.

Ou Saturday, the same tribunal imposed 13 death sentences. four in absentin. on Japanese members of the Kempeitai (Japanese Gestapo) while 27 others received sentences of hard labour and solitary confine- ment for varying periods.

The members of the Kempeitai were variously charged with ill-treatment, torture and assassination of French resistance fighters in Indo-China.-Reuter.

The Prime Minister, Mr Attico and ↑ MANARAYANASILJEBKURANNARARAMURAL CAVOLINERAREA UNEI

is "Coal Cabinet" are due to meet

on

Tuesday, reports from all parts China's Currency

of the Kingdom,

said.

informed sources

may at that time enable them

to Bx date for restoring electricity supplies to industrial users.

The Prime Minister and his special advisers are empowered to order the switch-on without awaiting Cabinet sanctions.

It was regarded as certain, however, there would be no casing of restric- tions on domestic consumers-orttered under threat of fines or imprisonment to usa no power for five hours daily -fer another week or two,

There still was the danger that another heavy fall of snow would disrupt. railway trafe or that fresh gales would slow the movement of coal-laden ships-Associnted Press.

COAL STEADILY MOVING

London, Feb. 17. The Ministry of Fe and Power to-night announced that the improve mant in the fuel position continues following the great electricity cuts which started a week ago,

Despite the cold, almost na grent at any time during this worst winter in Britain for half a century, coal was to-day steadily moving from mines to power stations.

The Ministry of Fuel disclosed that Ravings in the first week of restric tiona were 202,750 tons, equal to 20 per cent of consumption. Stocks at all power stations rose to a total of 1,072,000 tons as compared with just under 000,009 tons on February 7, "Black Friday", when cuts were an- nounced.

Since nrly lo-day fleets of army lorries, which aim to shift thousands of tons to electricity and gas works dally, have been on the move.

Welsh miners and dockers, who put in arduous extra hours of work (Continued on Pogo 4)

EDITORIAL

Marshall &

Koo Confer

Washington, Feb. 18.

The Secretary of Binte, Gen. eral G. C. Marshall conferred over an hour with the Chinese Am basador, Dr Wellington Kuo, who said that a possibility of American aid in China's econo- mic crisis was discussed.

U.S. RESPONSE IS “FAVOURABLE”

Trading Act Repeal

London, Feb. 18.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Britain had received a "favourable" response from the United States State Department to a request for facilities to resume trading with Japan.

These facilities would enable British commercial interests

to send representatives into Japan to re-establish old contacts and develop a two--way trading, both in their own interests and also to speed up Japanese economic recovery, he added.

So far nothing has been heard from General MacArthur's Head- quarters which, fitherto, has banned the

of all Allied traders be- entry cause of shortages of food and nc- commodation, the spokesman said. United States business since

V-J Day has been

by an official operated commercial company, which has handled Japanese exports and in- ports on a Kovernment-to-govern- ment basis. In the past, the United States has supplled nearly all of Japan's imports and has bought about 053 per cent of her exports.

The Bulk of the balance has gone to Korea, China and Russia.

British Government sources sold that existing arrangements inside Japan were penalising Allied com. mercial interests primarily

the Neutrals who remained in country during

war escaped General MacArthur's ban, according to informants, and have been per mitled to bring new employees into Japan. Thus, when the British

the

WIT

Government on ene occasion. pur- chased-supplies of raw silk the pro- duct had to be inspected by a Swiss firm on the spot.-Associated Press.. SCAP AGREES TO REPEAL Tokyo, Feb. 17.

Enemy

Restoration Of

Reservations

Prico 20 Cents

Spanish

Monarchy Expected Soon

Lisbon, Feb. 17.

Negotiations for the restoration of the monarchy in Spain are now in their final stages, reliable sources said here to-day, and Generalissimo Franco reportedly has agreed to a Regency under which nine-year-old Don Juan Carlos, son of the pretender Don Juan, would rule.

Two prominent Span- ish financial figures, the banker Juan March and the former Finance Minis-

ter Larraz, who figured in Franco's rise to

power, were reported to be ba- hind the scheme to es tablish a new peninsular government more in line with world opinion than the present regime.

Larraz and March were only two of the stream of prominent visi- tors Don Juan received from Spain recently.-- United Press.

Kenya May Become A New Defensive Base

Cairo, Feb. 17.

Super-fast aircraft, rockets and the atomic age are shrinking the distances of space on Earth so quickly that in the future the British Empire's lifeline almost certainly will be routed around the southern tip of Africa instead of through the Medterranean Sea and

the Suez Canal in any future war.

Dimculties of defending the Medi- terranean have been apparent since the early stages of World War II when Axis aircraft closed the sea to through rate. Since then, powerful the barrier of distance have been de- new weapons which almost ignore veloped-bombers with ranges of 10,- 000 or more lies, the German V- rockets and others which promise to be succeeded by even more stupen dous tools of warfare.

The Suez Canal might be bom- barded in any future war by guided misslies of greater range and no- curacy than the V-1 and V-2 which Hitler threw upon England, or by clomic explosives or both. "Even if un attacker find no atomic bombs and

forward defences kept his forces be yond the range of guided missiles, chances are that ships could use the Canal only to supply British troops in-

The sources caute open Palestine and Trans-Jordan.

however. pri- sald

The Trading with the Ee Koo indicated to newsmen that Act which regulated commerce be- billion United tween Japan and the United States GL projected half States loan to China was inchided in since the surrender, will be repeated within 30 days, authoritative source: the discussion of "malters of com- mor. interest." A satisfactory mea-told the United Press. 1o-day. sure of Chinese political and econo-

this did not mean mic stability is required by the

with Japan. They vate trade United States as a prerequisite to the

that

permanent SCAP controls export-import bank loan.

would still be maintained and im- Meanwhile

high д

government authority stated that Chinn so far ports and exports would be conduct- made no request to the Uniteded for the time being through the hot States to freeze deposits of Chinesee channels heretofore. nationals in American banks in order It was learned that last month the Treasury Department sounded out to pelist Nunking to gain control of

whether it favoured such exchange scar foreign Chinese-owned

repen and received an affirmative

Tent sources continued to reply. Since then the Indications

NEW BASE SOUGHT

That is why the British have been looking lately for a new base of supply and strategic striking power remote enough to promise maximum security no matter how the new weapons of this age are developed or what the United Nations does to con- trol them.

Part of that road was built during the struggle with the Axis powers.

EGYPT'S

POSITION

A 1936 treaty between Egypt und Britain provides that the British may keep 10,000 troops and 400 piones in the Suez Canal Zone until 1956-07 unill the two agree the Egyptian army can defend the Canal by itself.

countries

King's Speech At Capetown State Dinner

"Wonderful Evening"

Capetown, Feb. 17. His Majesty the King, res- ponding to Field Marshal Jan Smuts' welcome at a state dinner on Monday night said:

"South Africa can show to a trou- bled world how peoples of different race and colour may live and work together for the common good.

Thank God this

great country has passed through both wars un- scathed portly because of its own high spielt und natural strength, and partly because of the strength and spirit of the Commonwealth.

"Like all nations, you have hard problems to solve in the aftermath of war, but statesmanship has not falled you in the past 100 years, and am confident It will guide you steadily to a just and contented re- lationship

dwellers in

your ma between land.””

General Smuts had told the, reyat visitors just before; "We are con vanced that your visit will serve to strengthen those bonds of goodwill Bad friendship Dinong the member of your great

nallons of the

Common

The King "This is

Tel: 27880

Wheat And Grain For England

Strachey Replies

To Crities

London, Feb. 17. The Food Minister, Mr John Strachey, told the House of Commons to-day that ho ex- pected Britain would receive "substantial quantities" of wheat and coarse grains from Argentine this year.

Mr Strachey said the Govern ent would be very much obliged" ir critical membern coult show a method of getting Argentine grain

for cheaper rates than those at pre- sent paid. He sold, however, that Britain could not give up bulk pur- chases because Argentina insisted on selling from government to govern- ment.

Present stocks would not permit nny increase in the soap ration, the Minlaler informed the House, Mile consumption in many former dig tressed areas had shown threefold increase over the prewar vel, he Indded.

The Conservative member, Mr Ru- pert de la Bere, esked Mr Strachey why. Britniri paid £30 per ton to Argentina for wheat and only £15 per ton to the British farmer and the Conadian grain authorities.

"I do not necessarily accent those figures," replied Mr Strachey, "but if the Honourable Member can show me how to gel, Argentine wheat Cred

.

I shall be very much The Agriculture Minister, Mr Tom Williams, told the Commons that present stocks for feeding stuffs for domestic poultry were not sufficient to restore the cut made last October, but "sympathetic consideration toward restoration at the earliest possible moment would be given→→→ United Press.

At present, Britain's main Middle- East base still is in Egypt, where British troops have been stationed the Queen and me. Since it marke

wonderful evculog for NO SPANISH IMPORTS for 4 years. Royal Air Force Head-

Londen, Feb. 17. Last the fulfilment of a long felt wish. quarters of the Eritish Middle East

A denial of Spanish reports that "We would have come to South Britain Land Forces is in the process of mov-

was importing food from ing from Cairo to

Africa many years ago, but for com- Spain was given in the House of a new home, described afleially as temporary, in

duties and the necessities of Commone to-day by the Food Minis- pelling war These were binding on us till ter, Mr John Strachey, the desert beside Grent Bilter Lake,

cun tell you victory was won, but a part of the Canal.

Mr Francis Noel Baker, had stated that, when peace at length returned, that In Spain considerable propagan I counted very high among its bles da was being made both by the ings the freedom which it brought extreme Left and the extreme Right, me to travel in the Commonwealth claiming that food imported to Bri- and to pay you a visit here."""

Edward VII, the King recalled, had fair was one of the reasons for the been the first to welcome to Britain present food shortage in Spain...

Mr Strachey said he denied them -tho-brillantsoldiers who had completely If they were being made.

against Elm In the South The only imports

were druits, of which Spain had an export surplus The King went on: "It was a great which she had been very keen to satisfaction to him to set the seal

Britain sell to

The pilee at which Britain is buy- upen, the South African act a few months before he died, and warmly ing butter from Denmark was also would be bave recognised the referred to in the House to-day. breadth of the statesmanship which After Food Minister Strachey hat- afterwards led the Union in partner-stated that it was 220/- a hundred- the Commonwealth, weight Lob., Mr William Shepherd ship with

asked if that covered cost. (Cons.) through two world wars,"

Paying tribute to General Smuts, of production. King George said, "the whole Com- monwealth is indebted to you."

(Continued on Page 4)

Morcover, after Egyptian students can war."

demonstrated

that

violently for im- mediate evacuation of British troops in 1946, Britain's Labour Gov. early in 1949, crnment announced it, intended to withdraw all military forces from Egyptian territory. The period for completion of the promised evacua- tion, and the terms of proposed new Anglo-Egyptian alliance, have

ihen. been under negotiation since OfBelaly in London announced Some Egyptians are skeptical the recently they were giving serious that British troops ever will move that in have been that the Act-which can China rumours discount

consideration to the Crown Colony out of this Nile Valley Kingdom. guld be abrogated by a simple Treasury Chinese dividual

possess

action through authority delerated

of Kenya, on the east coast of. They contend that, even it, the main accounts and other assets Eere total-

by the President-will be repealed

Africa 2,500 miles to the south as base were established in Kenya ull- ling a billion United States dollars.

that within two to four weeks.

the site of such a base.

mately, Britain would want to keep Prevailing opinion here was that

SCAP's Economic and Scientifle Kenya is remate from any nation light forces here as well as in Pales- It was unlikely the United States

the would undertake such freezing. It Section has long favoured repeat in

with sufficient industrial resources to tine, Trans-Jordan, Iraq and Ws sad that the trend in offelal order to give the Foreign Trade support modern, full-scale milltary Sudan,

But British Division a freer hand in financing operations. It offers the best har

army officers say circles at present is away from such

export programme. Re- practice the prime objective being Japan's

bour on the cast coast of Africa. It usucly, privately and positively cently I was the utmost possible freedom of such $100,000,000 to $200,000,000

revealed that 0 faces the southern ses lanes leading that they are on their way out of helpful restoration volving fund"

"re- to the Far East and to the rich oll Egypt. necounts as a

to supply Japan's supplies of the Persian Gulch to international trade-Associated | wool ond cotton manufacturing | 11

It could be connected

by motor industries with raw material was way with the west coast of Africa sought in order that Japan might be for the evacuation of British forces pald for its "retnined" imports, such in case they were threatened with enpture, as the British base in Egypt was threatened during the last war,

Prees.

Making Our Roads Safer

QUIETLY, but methodically, the police force has been putting Hongkong'a traffic house Into a state of orderliness during tim past eleven months. Officially, the traffic department resumed activities in March, 1940, although It had to start functioning from the reoccupation days. In those times of confusion and disruption, the authorities were confronted with a set

Prime canalderation was probleme somewhat distinct, from those of to-day.

of

to find enough transgort, bath private and public, to meet requirements; there were few traffic signs, either for guidance of drivers or pedestrians; there a monace an they were too many pillion cyclists, who were just as much were help. Perforce, through shortage of personnel, traffic control was negligible, and the street accident rate soared to new top levels.

The traffic The plature has changed in somo essentials, but not all, department is still gravely understaffed; the accident rate remains high. But there are alone that vigorous measures are being taken to make Hong. 'Kong's streets safer than they were. Speed limits are once again being enforced, and figures show that at present summonses against spænding, dan. gerous and careless driving are up pro-war levels. Immediate plans for further enforcement of traffic regulations include the reintroduction of speed. Ilmit control signs, bath on the Island and in Kowloon; the setting of police traps for offending drivers; a propaganda campaign to instruct all drivers in what are known as the ten Ten Commandments of the Road," and the making of educational films in Hongkong, lilustrating to

generally the right and wrong way of using highways. These are all positive endea vours to make the colony's reads safer both for pedestrians and drivers, and they will receive full public approval. That they are neededin fact overdue-ls graphically shown in the 10-months' street, aceldent figures. anding last December. These showed 87 deaths, 208 seriously Injured and 857 alightly hurt. There is yet another potent rosson why tramo control `should be raised to the highest point of efficiency possible: to-day, there are 6,000 reglatured private vehicles and 10,000 drivers on the road. There is also an estimated 1,000,000 people in Hongkong. In the face of these figures, only the strictact supervision of both pedestrians and accident rate down' to reasonable proportions.

as food fertiliser.

THREE ALTERNATIVES.

The "revolving fund"

will be

comprue with that which the Bri Development of a base in Kenya ish now have in the Suez Canal Zone would take many years and a great deal of money. It might be placed in use, however, while far short of such proportions.

Kenya's splendid harbour could be developed also to provide facilities for large naval forces—carriers,

raised in one of three ways: (1) STRIKE STOPS landing ships, and other craft--As-

Japan's Impounded

BUILDING

gold, Jewels and other valuabler seized from the Japanese Army and placed in the Bank of Japan; (2) by a loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, or other United

New York, Feb, 17. States Government agency: (3) by

Hall of the city's housing con- a loan from private sources.

All three plans were said to be struction was paralysed to-day by under consideration in Washington. a flash strike of 1,000 key building The sources said by repealing the trades workers, threatening eventual Trading with the Enemy Act SCAP curtaliment $300,000,000 worth of would more easily put either of the sorely needed new homes. latter two plans into operation. They The strike was called when the emphatically pointed out that re-workers refused an eight-hour day penis would not put Japan on the and dmanded a seven-hour International monetary exchange.

It

ΟΣ

sociated Press,

No Real Cause For Optimism

warned

Singapore, Feb. 17. Sir Harold Sanderson, Director of Rice in the British Food Ministry, who is touring South East Asia to work study the rice situation, with a wage of $2.50 hourly against optimian. that the rice pro- RFC sources said it already had

le in Akron, 50,000 ruh-blem of supply and demand could loaned Germany money to buy rawber

of the C10 union will be solved easily materials.

vate this week whether to strike as He said at a conference to-dný

·will be

recalled

Ambassador a result of the breakdown of con- that it would take years for the George Alcheson, Jnr., in an extract negotiations. Strike votes will casing of the situation as rice ex- D; Slam, clusive interview with the United be taken at the Goodrich plants on porting countries such Press in Washington said that Wednesday, at the Goodyear on Eurmu, French Indo-China, were in of Japan's shattered Thursday and at Firestone on the throes of political unrest and early revival

to Friday. was vitally necessary to

unable to concentrate on growing economy check

"critical, and, almost The Big Three had arranged to ric

rice, desperate. situation."

Sir Harold: leaves on February 22 negotiate a single contract covering Authoritative sources said if repeal the entire industry, hence it a strike for a courtesy visit to Jayn, after of the A&t loosened too much of is decided it will shut down the which, he will go to New Delhi for

with Mr conference

Terence present SCAP controls, additional major plants, provoking an inter-a controls traffic enn. keep the

would be implemented. ruption in the rubber goods produc- Shone, the British High Commis United Press.

tion.---United Press.

sloner in India--Heisteri

pubila

the

A.

Mr Strachey replied that that was rather a question for the. Danish. Government.--Reuter.

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