1947-03-25 — Page 1

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VOL. II NO. 147

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Hongkong Telegraph. G

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1947.

REASSURANCES ON IMPERIAL

Britain's Food Situation

London, Mar. 24.

The Food Minister, John Strachey, in a general review of the food situation, said to day that Britain would import "much more" maize this year than the last in an effort to reconstitute her livestock in- dustry.

He said there would be an open general importing licence for all green vegetables until the middle of June, in an effort to solve the current shortage, and price controls might be reinstituted on root vegetables.

PREFERENCE

Commonwealth Interests Will Be Fully Protected

London, Mar. 24.

Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade, told the House of Commons to-day that Britain would certainly not give away the interests of other Commonwealth countries in reducing Imperial Preferences enjoyed by them in the United Kingdom market.

cun count on them to treat us in Preferences which we value in their the same way and not give away. markets.

Britain was equally sure that she could count on the Commonwealth. countries treating her in the same way. Opening the debate to-day on British export und Import trade with special reference in Imperial Preference, Colonel Walter Elliot, Conservative member, said that it seemed odd to the Opposition that there was very little reference to Empire markets in the White Paper outlining Britain's economic pasi- tion.

"We think that the

Asked why only 120,000 tons of malze were imported last year, Mr Strachey said, "The extreme world- wide shortage of cereals for human

organisation consumption made it necessary for et empent marks and trade ar- International Emergency Food rangements which we have made Council to rule that all cereals be within the Empire, which have been reserved for humans. The cereals built up over

a number of years, position is still very

serious, but are of the very greatest importance fortunately

and that it is very malze ut cost

worth while better supply.

that they should be maintained and encouraged. The policy of Imperial "I have been enabled to make Preference should not only not be arrangements which provide us with

slighted, but should be fostered." the prospect of mueli more substan-

Half tial supplies during 1947.”

He said only about 40 per cent of the potatoes required for London renched the city during the 5lX weeks ending March 14, but the position was now improving. Green vegetables. also wore In acutely short supply, he said. Potato con- sumption was over that of pre-war.

BANANA PURCHASES "propose to buy the whole ex- portable

banzana crop from Cameroons," revealed Mr Strachey. the "The terms of purchase have not been settled."

year

He said all cake supplies would be about the same as last unless

an unforeseen disaster occurred,

The Agriculture Minister followed Mr Strachey to report ON the enormous damage done to food crops by the current loods which, he said, caused the greatest damage and It was still impossible to assess the total results.

"All the resources of the Govern- ment were placed without stint at the disposal of the local, authorities," he said. He called the situation one of "national emergency."

of Britain's manufactures Went to the Empire and it was diMcult

to believe that Britain's own prosperity would persist if these arrangements were seriously cut into.

Jad

NOT CRABBING POLICY

monwealth and Empire us being di- vided into two partsonic, the manu- facturing centre of this country and the other the vast agrarian and raw material could carry out a policy of exchange

with dren,

which Britain for foodstuffs and raw material,

To-day, many other parts of the Commonwealth had become

monu- facturing countries and desired to protect their infant industries an much against British as foreign goods.

The picture was changing. They all needed a variety of markets. Any iden of prevention et industrial develop- ment in the Empire was giving way to the conception that general deve- fopment of industry throughout the world must be the object of all coun- teles.

'Britoin could not get the advant- age of freer entry into other markets, particularly hard currency markets, unless she was prepared to make some contribution to the general freeing of world markets. She could not expect others to make her any unilateral grant.

..

"We have got to make up our minds Colonel Elliot contested the view whether we are going that Preferences were restriction of with a general removal of restrictions, to continue trade. It was admitted by everyone to which we must make our contri- that the Preferential atTangements bullion, or revert to restrictive poli- been of great beneft to the cles, which greatly diminished and Empire. Some people said that this nearly destroyed international trade was grabbing and selfish. That was between the two wars. The Govern- net so. It was not irus that a stablement have no hesitation whatever in area of trade was an injury to world choosing the first of the two alter- trade. It had been

natives." uf specifle ad- vantage to the United States.

Referring to the meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conterence at Geneva next month, Mr Elliot said that the ob production. The way to do it was jective was expansion of trade and

| to get to grips with à few prople on specifle problems rather than to enter into wide international con- férences under which people could find ways to escape. ̈ ̈

The development of Empire and colonial trade was for more fruitful than a conference of this kind.

The Liberal Member, Mr R. Hopkin Morris, took the opposite view, de claring that eno way to prevent These Inundations following de- Empire prosperity was by fostering lays and loss caused by autumnImperial Preferences. rains and the frost and snow of It was not tariff restrictions which January and February can only be were a danger, but the device which described as disaster of the first every country had framed to control magnitude, which cannot fail to imports, have the most serious effect home, food production this year." United Press,

EDITORIAL

on

CHANGED PICTURE

Sir Stafford Cripps suld that Bri- tain, must no longer regard the Com-

Unhealthy Atmosphere

NOTHING could be more com

promising and embarrassing for the United Nations' Commis ston on Arinamenís, which con- vened yesterday for the purpose of Anding a world-acceptable for- mule for scrapping war conven- tional weapons, than the present political trend and inferences. The United States, backed by Britain. has declared intentions to prevent the spread of communism, mean- Ing Soviet Intrigue and influenco. Affording

Idea Idca 45 to Just what this policy may involve, H has become necessary for Pre- sident Truman to be asked, point, blank, whether his nation is nul- ticlently

prepared to ro la war with Basslo. Grasping courage from the Anglo-American pro nouncements, political elementą la China ha

have become vociferous on the subject of demarches" and "diplomatie

warnings to Moscow:

the Paraguay regime discovers that it is communists who have engineereti the revolt against Pre- sident Morinigo, but feels that rieace can be

secured "at

$ small rost in blood and

Tallan authorities disclose tho

that tr

underground communism i pete mitied to pursue its activities the only result

I must be full-scale civil. war and while the C-in-C of the American marines warns his World War H Warriors not to discard their uniforms, but to keep them dusted, because they will probably be needed again in the near. future, Rusia is reported to be tinkering with a Cosmio TAYS

weapon that will make the atomle Lomb the equivalent of a .303 bulisi.

her

In this atmosphere, the United Nations Commission ineels to try and hammer out an agreement on disarming the world, The United States (who will be the principal spokesman for the democracies) las already made

attitude clear: no disarmanent until the peace treatles are signed, and the atoinfe bonib to remain a secret for the democracies. The Russian view noint

is likely to be Jus

be just as rield; Rel

ort with disarmament Irrespec- tive of vence treatles, and let the world share atomle energy secrets.

hinges

tow

a spirit of genuine com- promise can be injected into the meetings. It is a matter of record that when the Security Council mel on this issue last February, it was confronted with the same. antagonisite peints of view; and that it succeeded, after much hick- ering, in

in agreeing on blueprint for parallel, negotiations on disarmament

on world and International control of atomis energy, plus the Ketting up of a UN commission for scrapping armaments of the con- ventional type. It accomplished this in the face of what appeared to be unconsolable polloles, and t maybe that the Commisalon will eventually point to equally weful and Important results. But it would be foolish to expect too much In the light of current political and diplomatic developments.

|

NO MAGIC FORMULA Sir Stafford said that the charter of the International Trade Organisation contained no magic formula for pro- sperity, but it established a set of rules with proper latitudes in accor dance with the economic clreums- Lances of the various countries.

very

promote

trade great

The organisation sought full employment on an International scale and remove barriers to inter- -national-trade. The discussion at represented, would be on the esta- Geneva, at which Britain would be blishment of international organisations and the complex of tariff negotiations.

Sir Stafford Cripps said that he felt certain all countries, Including the United States, realised that at the present stage no finality could be sought on tariffs. Trade was in a dislocated condition and that likely to go on.

www

WOR

"We have pledged ourselves to include in the bargaining

process Imperial Preference and we shall be ready after consultation with the Commonwealth countries concerned to consider reductions in the margins of preference, both those that we grant and those that we enjay in return for concessions which we regard of comparable value made by other countries.

"We need no one-sided obligation to increase or eliminate Imperial Preference"

COUNTRIES TO BARGAIN Sir Stafford said that the Com- monwealth countries would remain Judges በE fo whether counter- concessions offered were suficient to induce them to modify Prefererer margins. in return, Other countries would similarly judge whether they were justifled in making concessionis that they might make.

of a mutually satisfactory bargain "Whatever is given up will be part

(Continued on Pago 4)

Fine Flying Record

London, Mar. 25. Captain Federick Dudley Travers B0-year old British pilot ended his career in the air on Monday night with a record of lying 275,000 miles In 30 years without single crash.

Travers, a bachelor, made his last light in British OveTNERS Airway's Bying boat on the re- rular run from Eript to Foote Harbour

110

210 learned to By with the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, was a world war one fighter pilot for several years, and began regular flying on commercial

1920.

TUBS п

Travers, closing his fog book on 191,000 hours as a pliat said: "I have never had an accident, never crashed, and never had a single passenger injured."

B.O.A.O. oficials despatched a radio message to him just before he came in to land, congratulat- Ing him on "over 20 years un- broken record of safely as an airline captain." Associated Tress.

Peace Treaties Signing

Mr Ernest Bovin signing the peace treaties with Italy, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and Finland at the Foreign Office, On his left is Mr A. V. Alexander, Britain's Minister of Defence.

GREEK MINISTER'S OFFER TO STALIN

Cleveland, Mar, 24,

The Greek Foreign Minister, M. Constantine Tsal- daris, in an exclusive interview granted in Athens to the Cleveland "Plain Dealer" correspondent, John Leacaicos, appealed to Josef Stalin, "as chief of the world's largest and original Communist Party," to make a public declara- tion to followers of the Communist doctrine in all countries that in the interests of world peace Soviet Russia prefera the victory of Communist philosophy through peaceful, de- mocratic means and popular elections rather than armed revolution and guerilla warfare.

In return, M. Tsaldaris prosiderable mised Grecoe would consent

power and

influence

to through normal participation in the free the port of Salonika to give political life of their countries. i Why Yugo-Siavis and Bulgaria. a. com- cannot the Greek Communists do

the same."United Press.

mercial outlet on the Aegean,

He would also consent to an am- "The Government are fully aware their arma and participate in the nesty for all guerillas who lay down of the. importance of Preference, both in practice and in Communists will be allowed to rule Imperial. new elections with a pledge that the sentiment and they appreciate the Greece if they win the free, populat value attached to the system by jefections. other Commonwealth countries,"

For

Reservations

Price 20 Conta

Tel: 27880

THE MOST EXPENSIVE SPEECH IN HISTORY

Three Hundred Words For

A $100,000,000 Loan

Washington, Mar. 24. Republican Representative Karl Mundt described the Under-Secretary of State, Mr William L. Clayton's state- ment to the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Com- mitice to-day as "the most expensive speech in the history of the world."

He said "You have devoted only three hundred words to Turkey and since you ask for $100,000,000, that figures out at $333.333 per word. Let me congratulate you.”

After laughter had subsided. My Clayton replied: "I certainly did not use all the words that could bo

used on the subject."

Representative Mundt proposed an amendment, earmarking $10,000 000 of the $400,000,000 credit permit Greek and Turkish nationals to study in the United States and "observe the American way of life and democratic process."-Reuter.

the

to

bone, Clayton said the Mediter- ranean country now finds itself with an economy which threatens to col- lapse. He said about $150,000,000 would be needed to provide Greek armed forces with arms, ammuni- necessary "to deal effectively with tion, clothing, rations and equipment the guerillas"

Press.

He added that, political and, mill- tary reasons for strengthening the OUTRIGHT GIFTTM Greek Army have been discussed by

Washington, Mar. 24.

others but "I should like to The Under-Secretary of State, phasize that the establishment of em- William L. Clayton, told the Con- security is an essential prerequisite. gress to-day that all Anancial aid to to

econome

stability."--United the Greek and Turkish armed forces should be an outright gift rather than a loan because it is essential to United States security.

Testifying before Foreign Affairs Committee in sup- port of President Truman's

$400.- 000,000 Greek and Turkish ald pro- gramme, Clayton indicated that about half would be for military assistance for which he said repay- ment should not be sought. He said military aid grants to Greece should amount to $150,000,000 and thot Turkey should be given $100,000,000 for military aid and for essential public projects such as railroad rehabilitation.

House Three Negroes

Clayton pleaded

Hanged

Gallows Gear Fails Acero, Mar. 24. Three of the negro ju-ju ritual murderers were hanged late-to-day

Court that Congress after the

rejected their leave it to the President to determine eleventh-hour bid for freedom, but the terms under which assistance to the execution of their vo Greece

and Turkey would be defendants had to be postponed furnished. He said

any set af when the gallows gear failed." Onancial relations to be made must be related to realities and objectives, had to be postponed wept silently The two negroes whose execution

ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE

co-

ns their comrades went to the seal- Clayton said, "I believe that

fold The two will be hanged to assistance for military purposes is morrow. essential to our own security." He sald financial aid for civillan pur- poses would appear to fall in Afgrent secrecy. somewhat different category. "However," he continued,

The hangings were conducted in A large crowd had collected outside Fort James prison. not believe that we should create until they were over,

"I do but did not learn of the executions

financial obligations-for-which-there-

ment,"

is no reasonable prospect of repay- The first to be led to the scaffold was Aaron Eugene Bokye Denkwa. the Nazis Acera businessman and eldest son of economic Sir Ofori Alte, former paramount

chief of the Kibi tribe,

After relating how stripped Greece

to the

Coalmine Blaze

Heerlen, Holland, Mar. 24. Fire broke out in the state- owned coalmine "Hendrik" early to-day and 12 hours Jatér was razlog 1,100 feet under- ground,

Rescuers were handicapped. heavily by the heat and smoke pouring from the mine entrance, but rescue efforis wern, continu ing. Thirteen. miners overcome by the smoke were brought out, but one was already dead.

It was feared that the 11 men still in the mine were dead, for them although the searchi continued as far as possible,

The cause of the fire, which spread rapidly to a length of 100 metres, was not knowt..--- United Press.

WRIT REFUSED

Following him were Kwasi Pipim, grandson of the former chief and "drummer of, the talking drums” at Atta's palace, and Kwame Kagya.

Those whose lives were spared for .few hours by the fallure of the gallows wore Kwaku Amoako Atta, state police inspector, and Opoku Afwence, former soldier and formier registrar in a native court.

The executions came only a low; hours after an Acern court had re- jected the defendants' applications for a writ of habeas corpus. Filiping of the application early to-day had won the defendanta

A respilo-thole seventh since their conviction in 1944

only five minutes before their! scheduled hanging at 8 a.m. (GMT),

Defence

counsel had announced their intention of appealing the local court's decision against a writ of· habeas corpul to the Privy. Council in London --United Press..

DEATH SENTENCES IN CHALK PIT

London, Mar. 24.

The 66-year-old former Minis-

ter of Justice of Now South

MURDER TRIAL

Mr Beverley Baxter, Conservative, asked if the Government would con must pledge to respect the victory of Lawrence John Smith (38), a kind."

It is understood the Communists Wales, Thomas John Ley, and of life suffered an. injustice of this for ten years. It is hard to be- sider the absolute elimination of any other group in those elections if London joiner, were to-day sen- Goddard, summing up, told the jury: drive a man to crime"

lieve that there should have been Imperial Preference If it thought they lose.

Chief Justice, Lord f such acute Jealousy which wouni

that It was getting a bargain worth

It.

.

....

The Lord

tenced to death for the murder NEUTRAL ZONE PLAN

"If you, think that Ley was Counsel for Smitir described him Sir Stafford Cripps replied that

of a 35-year-old barman, John suffering from unreasoning jealousy as "Just a simple Joiner who has the Government saw no prospect of

McMain Mudle, whose rope for this woman you may think it been debauched by this incident for For immediate that happening. If it was eilmina Balkan: frontiers where

peace along the bound body was found in a throws a flood of light on the

the whole the payment of £200, tion of a particular Preference that quiry mission

of this story." a UN in partly dug grave at a chalk pit

Smith had stated in evidence has been examining

that might happen.

responsibility, AT. Tsaldaris suggest in the country near London on secution, Mr Anthony Hawke sald flat, but that he was not harmed.

In the final specch for the pro-ho helped to get Mudie into Loy's The Government would not dealed a Greek plon for a neutral zone November 30. unilaterally without the Governments of 10 to 20 miles wide on the Greek

that Mudie was found dead from Mrs Ley, 66-year-old wife of ne- Commonwealth of the

The trial had taken, five days strangulation in the chalk pit, having cused, who flew from Australia to be agreeing side of the frontiers Into which at the famous. London There would be bargains between guerillas could safely penetrate to. Balley, and evidence had been given a house in London to which he had in court most of the day, but had court, Old undoubtedly been transported from prezent at her husband's trial, was Britain and the Commonwealth, be-surrender their arms to American, of Ley's relations with a 60-year been decoyed as the result of a plot left when the verdict was announ tween the Commonwealth, the United British, French or Russion soldiers, old widow, Mrs Maggy Brooks. States and other countries,

engineered by Ley.

ced. The and receive amnésy protection.

prosecution case qucation of whether Britain removed

Ley henne enlous over Mrs. Brooks, a Referring to wake Commonwealth presentatives st of the British uny particular Preference was He pledged to allow the guerillas accusing her wrongly of undue famit is it saying too much that at one Geneva in 1927 and in the followirig matter for her and the Dominions, to migrate, if they choose, once they liarity with Mudle. just as the question of tariffs would lay down their arms.

particular stage this

is year was at the Berlin econble con- Before the sentence of death was obsessed, almost to the point of ference, bowed low to the Judgo As soon as diearmament of the.

passed, Ley told the judge:

being unbalanced? By midsummer after being sentenced to death, With- "I am not surprised at the explolia- has not that of give away rebels" is completed, new Greek ton of the allegations about jealousy, become centred on this man Mudle?" walked, with a smile on his lips to poisonous auspicion out looking round the court, ho the interests of the Commonwealth three to six months.

elections would be called within suspicion and molive and, suchlike colmtries in reducing Preferences en-

nonsense when you refuse to allow me said: "What a story it is of this cells, qu

For Ley, Sir Walter, Monckton the top, of the stairs joyed by them in the United Kingdom

loading market and we are equally sure we Belgian Communists have won con

M. Tsaldaris said: "French and say. I am perfectly innocent. I regret woman of 60 years between whom tensio hurried quickly after Lay to state in the box what I wanted to old man of 38 years and an old Smith, showing no sign of nervous very much that I have at my time there had been no familiar relations

Reute

be between the. Dominions America,

"We shall certainly, not

and

++

Ley's accusations

of

to the