1947-02-20 — Page 1

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VOL. II-NO. 119

Bevin & American Jewry

Newspapers Report Alleged Complaint

London, Feb. 19.

The Conservative press said] that the Foreign Minister, Mr| Ernest Bevin, told a private Parliamentary Labour Party!

meating to-day that if it had not been for the influence of American Jewry, he could have reached a "temporary solution" of the Palestine problem.

Labour sources refused ment on this.

to com-

Doth the Evening Standard and the News said that Mr Devin replied to the attacks of hostile Labourites on his Palestine policy by blaming United States Jewish influence,

The Standard said Mr Bevin told a group.

only had to deal with British Jewry, I could have reached a temporary solution of the problem, which would have ensured tran- quility for 20 years, during which a permanent arrangement could have been made,"

The News said Mr Bevin referred to the "dangerous influence" of American Jewry. It said he hoped modernla Jews and moderate Arabs in Palestine would come together and cut the ground from under the ex- tremists by forming a joint state on progressive lines,

The

HONGKONG TELEGRAPHI, For and on hakalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD.

· Eristen and Paðiliðar

Hongkong Telegraph.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1947.

India's Next INDUSTRIES IN MIDLANDS TO

SWITCH ON NEXT MONDAY

Viceroy?

LORD MOUNTBATTEN

Domestic Fuel Rationing

Remains

In Force: More Stocks Needed

London, Feb. 19.

The British Government to-night issued an order for "Operation Switch On," which will on Monday restore electricity supply to the industrial heart of England, where vital export plants have been at a standstill for nearly two weeks.

The area in which the use of electricity for industry will be permitted is centred on Birmingham and stretches to Crewe, Gloucester and Peterborough,

The Prime Minister, making this announcement in the House of Commons to-day, declared that the Government would not consider the situation safe in any area until two weeks' stocks were built up in each area.

Big Appointment For Mountbatten Rumour

London, Feb. 19.

It is strongly rumoured in knowledgeable London quarters lo-night that Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, former Supreme Commander of SEAC, will succeed Lord Wavell as Viceroy of India.

Official quarters declined to make any comment upon the suggestion.

The Admirnity announced in No- vember that Lord Mountbatten had appainted Rear-Admiral com- manding the First Cruiser Squadron the Mediterranesa Fleet, in April this year. challenged the appointment to Lalin effect

The Standard said the Prime Minister, Dir Altec, und six other Cabinet Ministers listened while Mr

(Labour)

Michael Foot

Mr Bevin to tear up the 1035 White Paper and a member of the Party's Foreign Affairs Committee asserted, "Mr Bevin has fed his petition in political bankruptcy."

charged

On January

6, he joined a senior officers' tech- nical course at Portsmouth.

Persistent rumours and suggestions are current in London to-day to the effect that a change in the Viceroyalty of India is imminent.

MINISTER CHARGED It cald Mr John Paton that Mr Bevin had admitted "con-

STATEMENT AWAITED plete and abject failure" and ビー

Oficial quarters are silent on the cused him of "abdicating Britain's subject but the political world is de- responsibility for operating the man bating whether this will form one of

dato."

the chief disclosures of the auxiously Mr Bevin was said to have pled-walted statement of the British ged that Britain would accept and Government polley which the Prime stand by any decision on Palestine Secretary of State for India, Lord Minister, Mr Clement Attlee and the which the United Nation Pethick Lawrence, will make in Pat made, even if it meant evacuation of lament to-morrow. Palestine.

Answering

Government statement charges Palestine polley was conditioned by on the Congress Party's recent com- to a large extent up- Arabian oil considerations based on munication to the Viceroy, Lord

that hju

The

ΠΙΟ ΤΟΥ

fem.

a debate upon the statement

of place almost immediately or after policy. Whether such a debate takes no interval will depend largely upon the reaction to the Prime Minister's statement and that of the House of Lords to Lord Pethick Lawrence's announcement.-Reuter,

Air Liner Catches Fire

Passengers Safe

Paris, Feb. 19.

the

Mr Altier also stated thnt. Governmeal "Was Initiating talks through the Minister of Labour be- tween employers and trade unions. for staggering hours of work in the restored area, so as to spread-over the industrial lond,

The areas in which the use of tricity far

elce- Including Lon-

are the south is still banned

Desperate Measures To

Keep Warm

London, Feb. 20

WOTC

Old people

burning

that

dou, and the north-west. Mr Att bannisters and picture frames lee said that Parliament would be to keep warm in some parts of nofiflet when it was considered safe England yesterday, and the to restart industry in those areas menth-long cold wave also. "We do not want rashness, but we do not want timidity," Mr hastened the collapse of the Attice said.

The Fuel Ministry announced to- with no

country's fuel system continued tricity undertakings bad enough coal night that yesterday Dritain's elce-

forecast of an early relief, over the country as a in stock to keep going for 13.0 days London's power stations had only on Tuesday night and was below The temperature dropped to 19 whole, but degrees, below zero in some districts 1.5 days' stocks, based on restricted freezing generally yesterday, consumption estimater. The Government's

Londons' proverbially gloomy wea- restoration ther broke an all-time record. For of power to tie Midlands Indus- the. 18th successive day the sun fall- irles does not imply any relaxationed to penetrate thick grey clouds. of restrictions on the domestic use

Seventeen days in December, 1890, of current, which sull stand at the was the longest previous tunless five-hour han dully.

period. The Ministry of Fuet spokesman,

Suburban Luton, following the Sir Guy Noll-Bower, warned at a

lead of Berlin, opened the first preas conference that the "gas emergency warming centre for old position nothing like satisfactory, but

people. Hot drinks as well as there is no question just now of gas

heat were provided form 10 am restrictions."

to 4.30 p. m.

MINISTER'S WARNING

liner, carrying 17 persons landed An Air France Constellation air- safely at Casablanca, North Africa, Lo-to-day after one engine caught fire soon after the plane left the Azores on a New York-Paris flight.

sugg gas. An Air France communique said:

Ice floes interrupted navigation on the river Maas. In south Belgium. Little "midget teeberg" choked the Scheldt estuary.

My want to tell this Party that the League's position-in-the Indian be provided wilt a special plane to/Suggestion-by' ̄Coišervulive fem weather of the current cold spell.

on

an anti-Soviet atitude, Mr Bevin Wavell, that it considered the Mos-"All passengers aboard the plane will was quoted as saying: future security of this country is

Interim Government untenable in carry them on to Orly airport, Paris view of the League's boycott of the cutirely dependent on good relations Constituent Assembly.

on February 20." with America and I am acting

Earlier the New York Coast Guard basis in order to see that never Congress that

The Cabinet has

considered the headquarters stated that the Army again is 1939-41 repeated, when this

Party's

representation to-Air Forces in the Azores reported country stood alone.

gether with n communication from that an Air France Constellation tne Mosiem League, which is under plane sent out an SO.S. at 12.10 to- stood to assert the League's right to day about 340 miles south-west of continue its participation in the In-labon,

Rus

"I also want good relations with Soviet Russia, but if Soviet wants to drive a wedge between usin and America or America tried

10

work us against Russla, I am not ge- ing to play."-United Press.

New Air Service

To Hongkong

#lights from

Transocean will be DC-4s and pinns. thrice-weekly Onkland to Honoluit carrying freight only, beginning February 23-Associated Pres

crim Government regardless of ita The plane was said to have been Assembly, which is to create a con- blanca. attitude towards the Constituent en route from Bermuda to Casa- stitution for independent India,

Air France office at New York NO PREDICTIONS

confirmed that the plane was in With the Cabinet's announcement trouble but was unable to say how only 24 hours distant responsible ob United States steamer Robert Fulton many people were on board. The servers show no inclination to pre- and the Norwegian vessel Estrella diet the direction of the British Go-were reported to be vernment's decision.

in the

Minister..

Th: Government recognises

that

mediate vicinity.

RESCUERS ON WAY

ins-

safety and not yet been reached and Sea and off the channel consis nation that an adequate murgin of The Ministry of Fuel warned the

Vast Ice Aeld drifted in the North urged citizens regulations and exercise the utmost

rigidly to observe ON THE CONTINENT economy in the use of electricity and

Temperatures in the Paris region dropped to 19 degrees Fahrenheit, a drop The Prime Minister rejected the Tuesday's lowest,-- about six of

degrees from the

sharpest males a speelal appeal to workers ber of Parliament that he should Belgian temperatures hovered restrictive practices and work longer and employers to suspend all

around 20 degrees. hours for six months to make up for Hament that on full resumption of lost poduction, Mr Attice told Par- work he was confident that ployers and workers could be re- lied on in the country's interests to take any steps

lost production sary to make up Uners are to-night being urged to make a decision about Sunday work this week-end. In the New South Wales anthracite field the big Abercrave colllery announced that production would P on throughout Sunday.

for

em-

Coal production last week in the West Midlands was 13,000 tons up on the corresponding week of last year,

The

kept public works project labourers, Continued bad weather in Rome most of them engaged in clearing Jobs on the banks of the Tiber, from working the required minimum of 24 hours weekly, and they called for speeint Government assistance.

Rishi temperatures were reported la southern Italy. however, Beriln with 20 degrees of frost and snow Burries, had at least five more deaths from freezing. The city's warming hails overflowed and queues formed before many of them.

A new temperature drop in south Germany kept dozens of factories idle and sent hundreds of Cirmans to the Woods in a desperate search for fuel. U.S. Army forecasters predicted new snowfalls and continued cold for an indefinite period.-Associated Press.

Bombs To Break Ice-Jam

The announcement which Mr Att- 120 will make is understood to be of Oakkinud, Calif., Feb. 19.

Two rescue aircraft are en route considerable length and it will be. The Transocean Air Lines sald made sinultaneously

to the scene from Lagens Field in from to-day it expects

New to inauzurate a Dellit,

the Azores nad others from Port through power cuts climbed greater- total number out of work non-scheduled plane service to It is almost certain that the Con-

Lynuley in French Morocco, Manila, Shanghai and Hongkong servative opposition lender, Mr

The Constellation, which left Ber-

day to 2,114,000, it was officially an- in a week or 10 days,

Wins- ton Churchill, and his colleagues will

mudu

nounced. Some of the first back at at D

p.1. on The company

Tuesday work will be said phones will question Mr Attlee on the terms of ook off from Lagens Field at about Electric caployees in Birmingham, over 3,000 General fly two trips weekly with passengers the statement and the anxious

am. this morning. The and cargo.

plane where the arrival of coal will enable radioed that all Its cargo had been the firm to reopen production to- terest of Parliament may promote a jettisoned and was circling the area lengthy interrogation of the Prime where the ships Robert Fulton and

morrow with an emergency genera- ior. Estrella were standing by.

The temperature the House of Commons and the House the latest information available was

A company spokesman said that 6 pm, is still below freezing, but In London ot of Lords niny conceivably demand that the pinne had not yet

four degrees up yesterday at 30 down in the sea but one of its four

come Fahrenheit, engines had

failed,

NO PROMISE ABOUT CUTS The spokesman suld the plane carried six passengers and a crew

The Ministry of Fuel spokesman, prehension

As a low thaw began to day, ap- eleven. The coptain of the

asked whether it could be assumed break-up may, bring, the worst floods Inounted that the lea piano is Charles Le Chevalier of that domestle power cuts would not- Paris. The passengers are given continue through the winter. de Komorno's derellet bridge threatened on Norman' Reader of White Plains,clared: "No cuch assumption can be New York, Georgelto Chataignier of Paris, Gladys Flori of Paris, Raul Salze of Herault, France,

Meanwhile, in the Richmond area of north Yorkshire. 000 troops were Maurice Savequrt Harnel of Troye, working their way through to iso- France and Maral Voyer of Paris Inted villages. Reliter.

EDITORIAL

Freedom of the Press

MR Latimer, the Kowloon magistrate, this wook supported freedom of the presa in reporting and, publishing comments made in open court. The reminder of this privilege does not some amics. Over the yearn, Hongkong newspapers have become familiar with the technique of tentative auggen- tions in public, and furtive overtures in private, advocating restrictions of the freedom of the, prcas. suppression of remarks or actions likely, to embarrass, irrespective of In most casts any such action would Involve whether publication to In the interests of the public. Those who would direct what shed and what 'should not appear in print Invariably ignore the fact that newspapermen and Fesponsibilitico. It is generally acknowledged that a free press is a better publishers are fully, conscious for their guarantee of accurate, balanced and fearlous reporting than any restrictive measures.

There is a not uncommon impression that newspapers peesees unlimited Heence in what they can publlah. Where the press is subject to British law, this nation le erroneous. Editors and publishers are encompassqd by a variety of legal restrictions and obligations. There is too, inherent in every newspaperman a certain pride in being able faithfully to record the events. of the day, and He has a lively awareness of hie duties, his privileges, and, his responsibilities. The first function af informed about events of the moment, without prejudice or favour. Any nowapapar le to keep the public attempt to Interfere with that function, whether by official contral or direction, is to be regarded with distrust, and cosistad.

of

ALLEGHENY TRAIN CRASH TOLL

Altoona, Penn. Feb. 10, The death toll in the wreck of the Pennsylvanian. Railway's 14-coach "Red Arrow" yesterday is now set at. 25. dead-10 passengers and nine of the train's crew.

The injured total 124, many of whom are in a critical condition and expected t: die.

The famous train plunged over a 150-foot embankment in the heart of the scente Allegheny mountains Router.

made."

More than 10,000 British troop Poles, and German prisoner-of- war, were engaged to-day on snow clearance and coal-shifting in the Northern Command.

aald:

Prague, Feb, 10. bomb the ice-jam at Komarno to- United States Army plance will morrow in an effort to forestall the first spring flod in the basin.

Danubian

In history. Ice piling un againnf

to

spill water into Bratislava, suburb of Petrzalka, and endanger barbour reconstruction at Bratislava and Komarno.

an

Abnormally thick Jee from Crech officials feared, would be uninterrunted two-month freeze, ferried downstream by an equally abnormal drainoff from heavy snow- falls,

Commenting on the restoration

Transport arteries in many areas! of electricity to industry in the were being cleared by compulsory Midlands, Sir Miles Thomine, Vice railroads were still blocked off by Inbour, but many highways and Chairman of the Nuffield organ-heavy drifts which isation, one of Britain's largest during the last two weeks in coll- accumulated automobile manfacturers, "This is good news for the motor

sinnt fresh folla, Industry, centred as It is mainly universities and schools, whose in- Students and teachers of Prague's In Midlands area." All-workers, stitutions have been closed untli men and management, could be March 3 because of the coal shortage, relled upon to re-start exparts of turned out to clear storm sewers as care and trucks to earn home commelting began. All personne! forts; he added.

Ruyzno airport were assigned to dearing runways-United Press.

(Continued on Page 4)

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Strike Called UNRRA's

Oi

San Francisco, Feb. 19. The Congress of In- dustrial Organisations Oil Workers to-day postponed for 24 hours the strike call- ed against the west's largest

Policies Denounced

oil refineries. Union leaders Reactions To

and a major oil company planned a 'meeting aimed wage

at

settling their dispute.

The President of the CIO Oil Workers International Union said he had ordered the postponement at the re- quest of Commissioner Frank Wentig of the U.S. Conciliation Service.

The Standard Oil Com- pany and the Union will meet to-day "in one final effort to reach agreement". according to the Union.- United Fress.

13th Day Of

Hunger Strike

China's Request

Washington, Feb. 19. Official United States sources did not appear to take as chari- table a view of the Chinese re- quest to sell UNRRA goods as I did the UNRRA Director- General, Maj Gen Lowell Rooks. Rocks contended that they would be sold in the "free market,”

State and Commerce deparments sources opined that his distinction was a bit naive.

An offelul, Interviewed by the United Press, sald Hooks appeared to be making a rather subtle and polite distinction."

Meanwhile Representative Charles W. Vursel of Illinois warned UNRRA omeinla In stinging dc- nunciation of their policles that they would be violating the intent of Congress if they agreed to the Chi- nese propusal whatever they chose to can

UNRRA'S FUNCTIONS

Mr Vursell, in a speech en the floor of the House, sald the Congress, Tokyo, Feb. 18.

In appropriating funds which con- Thirty-nine-year-old Yoshit! Ho-stitute the major portion of UNRRA's shino, who entered the 13th day of money, lies never meant that UNRRA. a 21-day hunger strike protesting funds should be used for recun against the alleged delay in the re- sruction but only for relief and re- patriation of overseas Japanese, told habilitation. the United Press to-day he was Ho added that it sending u letter to Emperor Hirohito, UNRRA's purpose to ekster urging him to fast for one week Chorse dollar." with a view to appealing to "world opinion", for speeding up the re- patriation programme,

He said the letter would be de- livered to the Imperial Household Department to be conveyed to the Emperor.

alme.

my

M

WH

not

the

the

Vursell also declared that Congress should bar any further relief to countries "that have come under the He charged that relief "poured out" influence of Russian domization." to other countries has been. wider scale than the Administration

bocn.on can justify to American tax-payerɑ- Sitting at a table in a downtown enormous amount of ald" the United He said that in addijk to the Tokyo parts as a large crowd looked States on, Hoshino said: "The Emperor has UNTRA, it has

has extended through

also responsibility in speeding the

ald given ro- through the Export & Import Bank ticularly soldiers who were called to He said the Bank has extended lines patriation of overseus Jepanete, pur- the colours under the Emperor's of credit to England, France,

io European countries and China.

am going to urge the Em-

mNetherlands, peror to fast one week because I Finland, Greece, Foland, China and Belgium, Denmark, think it will be more effective in Czecho-Slovakin. reusing public support than fasting.

AT TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE The Emperor is not strong man physically, so I cannot we have not only backed Valted Vursell said, "I think it is obvious ask him to fast longer."

States representatives__from_the. Hoshino" sald n 20-year-old Japananelal standpoint in the worldwide nese woman--the wife of a soldier picture but have backed up to a large still overseas-had offered to join extent the financial structure of the bis hunger strike, but "I discouraged world at the expense of United States for a woman' to undertake." her because it is something too much taxpayer."

He also elled the credit extended by the International Banks for World Hoshino suld he was still "reellag Reconstruction and the International great" but had discontinued making Monetary Fund and raid, "Certainly speeches because he was "too weak we have gone far enough to satisfy for that anymore. Ho expressed the wildest dreams of the most in- confidence of carrying out his 21-day ternational minded if they have any hunger strike,

regard left for financial.colvency of our government and for the well- being of the United Staton citizens and future generations." United Press,

He revealed he had received 30,- 000 yen in contributions to his move ment-United Press.

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