1949-02-16 — Page 1

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VOL. IV NO. 38

200 Houses

Buried

Lima, Feb. 15-At least 70 people were killed when'. 200 houses were buried under debris from a ravine washaway, according to a report from the village of Sondondo about 265 miles south of Lima.

The side of a ravine was apparently washed away by a huge cloud-burst.

Rescuers are trying to report from the village of the village which was buried under the avalanche

of

rocks and mud. Sondondo has a population of 1,000,

-Associated Press.

KARENS & REDS

REPULSED

Rangoon, Feb. 15-Burmese Government troops, in a night Jong battle, repulsed combined attempts by Karen and Com- munist rebels to piece the Irrawaddy Delta town

of the

Kyniklat and Dedaye, Burmu Government claimed to- day.

Both towns district,

are in the Pyapon 40 miles southwest of

The Rangoon.

rebels sustathed heavy cartialties, the Government

further claimed. communique,

The Burn Government suspend- ed telegraphic traffle throughout the country today except in the, Tenás- serlm Division in the south. Oficial

that sourers disclosed

up-country SOUT

hind closed down telegraph ofees owing to widespread insurgent acti- vity.

Rangoon is at present in tele- graphic touch with three towns in southern Burm'--Moulmein, Tavoy and Mergol-Reuter,

For the Proprietor of HONGKONG TELEGRAFT. For and on behalf of

BOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LĪTIL

The

TODAY'S WEATHER: Moderate Northeasterly winda; fine. Noon Obervations: Barometrio pressure 1026.7 mba, 30.12 in. Temperature 60.9 der. F. Dew point 49 deg. F. Relative humlälly 04. Wlod direction Earth, Wind force 0 knots.

High water: 7 ft. 2 in. at 11.47. p.m. Low water: 2 1, 2 in. at 5.30 p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1949.

LI TSUNG-JEN HOLD ON GOVERNMENT

Criticism Directed At Sun Fo

NATIONALIST CASUALTIES CLAIMED BY REDS

Shanghai, Feb. 15.-The gradual tightening of control of the Chinese Government by President Li Tsung-jen, with the imminent.resignation of Dr Sun Fo confirmed in every quarter but officially, is another blow at the Conservatives headed by Chen Li-fu, who are still holding to faint hopes that the Generalissimo will return.

Premier Sun Fo's loosening grasp on his own cabinet as well as failure to induce chief organs of the government outside the Cabinet to set up shop in Canton, is giving Li Tsung-jen a stronger hold over the Presidency than when he took over from the Generalissimo.

over

Almost overlooked in the hectic days of the tug-of- that war between the President and the Premier was part of Li Tsung-jen's statement made when he took as the acting Chief Executive-that he would, like the Generalissimo, stop down if he failed the peace

It was recalled that Li mission.. phasised at that time that he was that purpose only."

The speculation was then-and Chen Li-fu and other leaders of the Conservative clique have been bank- Li Tsung-jen it -inc Ing on would fail setting the stage for the Generalissimo lo take advantage of his qualifying remarks when be bid farewell to Nanking.

Tsung-jen cm- taking over for

Further criticism was directed to. word Premier Sun Fo last night in Nanking by one of the Legislative leaders, Li Feng, who demanded that Sun Fo resign. He said the hurried evacuation of the Cabinet from slate Nanking "left the country in

of anarchy with adverse effects on

and external prestige."

Dino

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TIGHTENS HIS Refugees Jam Britain To

The

the platform of Shanghai North Station is shown here with refugees waiting for train space to the south. These are fami- lies of Nationalist soldiers from the Nanking, garrison retreating from the Com.. munista-AP Picture.

No More US Troops For MacArthur

Washington,

Station

ISRAELI-EGYPT ARMISTICE TALKS DEADLOCK ENDS

:

Rhodes, Feb. 15.-The deadlock in the armistice talks at Rhodes between the Jews and the Egyptians has been broken and an agreement is "close at hand,' an informed conference source told Reuter.

The source said both delegations had agreed to Auja, the Israeli-held town in the Negev desert near the Egyptian frontier, becoming the headquarters of As such the Armistice Supervisory Commission. Feb. 15. -

the town would be a "No Man's Land," it added.

But events in the past few days Peace and the government's Internal General Douglas MacArthur's i

strengthened Já Tsung-Jen's hand to the point where it was generally be- lieved that he will in no way con-

bad'

so far failed, although there were times when appeared us if Li Tsung-Jen's efforts were no use.........

BARTER SHIP TURNS BACK Shanghai, Feb. 16. The ss Greater Shanghai, the Arst barter ship sent to Red-held North China, was reported returning here today without reach-sider his work ing its destinatlan.

The

ship radioed she encountered heavy weather in the Yellow Seu und used up all her fuel so she turned flour back. She was laden with which was going to be exchanged for coal at Chinwangtas, Associated Press.

EDITORIAL

Further support was thrown to ward Li Thung-jen yesterday when 120 Legislators in Shanghal voted to return to Nanking to join the quorum already there.

U.S. & The Atlantic Pact

THE Preis of Western Europe,

lvis,

jadeing

from their

quoted comments, been startled and shocked by the polley statement made by United States senators

ancht proposed Allanlle Pact. Reaction bordered on the hysterical. has

resentment

and there lu obvious

Over

k

not

the

the

declaration that

the Intention of

auto- should onc

United States to plunge

mantically into war

of the signatories

DI

be

to the pact

subjected to 2 hostile

attack by another state. Justi fication for the outburst is not

10

policy

mislly

peace of Europe. To suggest that she because the United States, tuslats upon adopting a constitu- ilonal procedure in the event of being called upon to go to war

is

*pact rencging DEL ognin, - which has not

been fully alone signed and wrliten, let ratified. 14 unreasonable. If the Allaulle Faol, when it is con- out to be what turns, out cluded. the prophets foretell, I will be designed to create

fensive

on

a sold de-

the

the

between alliance Western hemisphere against any warlike action

part of Boviet Russin and her satellites. Uint ány act in such

It is Inconceivable other Fower would hway as to make for the Attentio Invoked, and

The appreciated. enunciated by Senators Connally and Vandenberg would to conform to the American Leem Constitution which has always insisted

Slater has upen the supreme right of Congress to decide whether or not the nation should go to This does not necessarily

war.

imply that the United States, as a alenatory to a mutual defence alliance, would 3101 honour its obligations, but it does preserve the right of America to follow a procedure which it regards as nuviterably

would be CASY, of read into this

T

course, to

olley atatement continuance of America'a traditional dislike of getting herself involved in European affairs, but the pellical deve- of the past four years

she has

wat,

ir

It necessary Pact to be the United very positively de- clared its intention to resist any further aggression by Russia, it can be taken for granted that the Kremin decided to provoke America would not hesitate to stand by the terms of her alliances. Thir, we now Congres- require know, would slonal

approval according to the could Constitution, but the set.

a formality. ELS regarded There is room for sympathy for the Western Unlon nations their keen desire to have certain guarantees from the United States, but t

but at the same time

bo

is fair to expect. America

such insist such

The United States

certain commit-

ments

in Europe and fur

furthermore has given wo indication that lo. On

sho desires or intends the contrary, the Marshall Plan, American support for and parti- cination in the creation of 2 Western European

Union, and

her willingness to share in Atlantic Fact all demonstrate her awareness to the important part

by nise to destined, Wärld War 18. to. play in min- taining the future security and

virtue

of

in

By

enjoy that she top will

if they only. safeguards,

even amount to respect for her Con- aitution. To suggest that the have Western European Powers been "sold down the river" the latest Senato polloy declara- tion is ridiculous. Ist

event. atty full terms of the Atlantio to be agreed Fact have still upon and then comfirmed by the signatorics

will be time There enough for recrimination, (if any when the canit- are warranted) llons of the propoed alllance aro Gnallred.

Li Feng added that the removal request

for more American

He spent six days in Japan. Whether to build up Unlied States military strength there has been u behind-the-scenes issue for months,

situation.

The question of Auja has blocked the armistice negotiations for the past fortnight. The Jews have rejected an earlier Egyptian suggestion that the town, which was captured by the Israelis in their last Negev offensive, should be a "neutral zone."

Spend More On Defence

£759,860,000 For Yoar 1949-50

London, Feb. 15,--Britain will spend £759,860,000 on de- fence for the year 1949-50 com- pared with £692,600,000 for 1948-49, according to à Govern- ment White Paper published to- night. She will aim at a fight- ing strength of 750,000 men in 1950. The three fighting Ser- vices will have 793,000 men this April-Instead of 716,000- owing to conscription being ex- tended from one year to 18 months.

The White Paper added that while more than a million recruits and National Service men hud passed through the Services 'since demobilisation, the Services suffered from lack of men with long ex- perlence or a high degree of ser- vice skill.

Men called up this year will un- der the National Service Acts bo

service from Hable for part-time mid-1050 onwards.

JET SECRETS

Fraser Wighton, Reuter's Political Correspondent, writes:

of

The secrets of new

British jot fighter planes approaching the speed sound, and the latest micosures to meet the atom bomb threat, llo behind Britain's increased defence measures for 1940-50, as outlined in the official Parliamentary paper published tonight.

The document gives the net finan- cial provision for defence purposes us £760,800,000, Authoritative quar- ters tonight indicated that the actual measure of British defence expan- sion authorised by the emergency September is about measures last £66 million.

of

been re-

This sum represents new British jet fighter types outmoding the first Comets and Vampires, the equipment overseas squadrons, including those of the Middle East, with jets." The whole, of Britain's home squadrons have already equipped with jet aircraft.

The expansion represents ahead" orders on naval construction at present outstanding, though not for proposed new "Admiralty ́-con- struction. It covers the overhauling and repair of a vast quantity of materini still held from the second and World War, including tanks lorries of various kinds.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

"go

of the Executive Yuun to Canton troops in Japan has been re- was not approved by the Legista-jected, Secretary of the Army. tive Yuan or promulgated by the Mr Kenneth Royall,, said on President.

Tuesday. He said that Fremier Sun Fo

~~~Ho ~~qg-told-it-would-be-im-- Tsung-Jen to entry on his peace practical to put more

hands the should resign now to permit Li

The Armistice Commission is ex-tinn

"only"probable troops over plans.

there, "Mr Royall. said after retura-pected to be headed by Brigadler change being the reduction of the The Chinese Red radio took 2 very cautious viewpoint in report from an 18-day inspection trip General William Riley, Chief of Staff forces in the area, subject to the to the United Nations acting Media-control of the Armistice Commission. the arrival in Peiping of Shan-through the Pacific area.

Bir Aslu would remain in Israell tor, Dr Ralph Bunche, and to include

hands, it was thought, Chai's peace delegation. In fact, the

high-ranking officer of both sides. broadcast did not mention the word

With the main points of the con- The delegations are now faced with peace, nor did it describe it as a

two main tasks, a decision on Beerference settled or practically settled, inission of any kind.

General MacArthur, Supreme Allied sheba (ike Negev capital captured by 24 hours of an agreement

the chances have grown in the past.

being It provides also for the most The item was confined simply to Commander in Japan, is understood the Israelis in the fighting last Octo-

advanced type of scientifle research reporting that "Yen Hul-ching. Shao

Informed eircles sald today that into methods of countering the threat Li-tze, Chang Chih-chao, Chinng to have reported to the Army Deber), and the disposition of Israeli signed at the weekend.

barring unforeseen hitches,

the from atomle and other wenpons. Yung and Huang Chi-han arrived partment that Communist advances troops in the Eastern Neger.

The financial provision for defence GIVE UP CLAIMS

technical details should be settled by in Petning by plane from Shanghal in China have upset Japan's strategie

Thursday, and the main task would for 1948-40 was £692,000,000 com- at 5 p.m. on the 14th."-Unlted Press.

The Egyptians are believed to have

then be lo complete the drafting nared with £759,880,000 for 1949-50, KMT LOSSES

But supplementary estimates are due given up their claims, made early in

agreement.

for the current year which may in- Bucharest, Feb. 15.-Some Chinese

million £25 Mr Royall confirmed that General the conference, that Beersheba should

and crease the total by Communist statistics of Kuomintang

12 ARTICLES APPROVED

bring it much nearer to the pro- losses over two and a half years of MneArthur previously had expressedbe Arab administered. The Israelis the hope he could be allowed more rejected this, saying that Beersheba reported operations were

This has already been mainly visional figure for 1049-50. troops, and brought up the matter not only controls the main road south

to the Egyptian border, but also two done, a usually well informed source

The key Bgure of the new report Cominform bulletin today.

He said that 12 Is the provision of 2654,500,000 for Listed in an official Chinese Com-again during the Secretary's visit.

No change is contemplated either important roads to the Transjordan told Reuter today. Issued munist communique

In troop strength or command in front, cast to Hebron and southeast of the 14 articles had been approved the Army, Navy and Air Force, an increase of about £107,500,000 on February 4, the figures given were:

by both a'des.

the previous year's figure-Reuber. Kuomintang casualties and pri-Japan. Mr Royall said.

The Israelis asserted that Trans- Back of this development is a long soners 4,500,000, of which 71 percent were regular troops. This included argument which dates back to the Jordan had not yet settled an armis- early years of the war. One school tice with Israel and they could not of thought contends that the Far afford to surrender control of this Kuomintang

captured

Enst is vastly important, and should vital road junction. 607, surrendered 105 and diled 67.

to informed mill- According receive more attention from liberated 300,000 square Territory

the Egyptians now accept the Israeli

are likely kilometres

55,000,000 inhabi- fary planners in Washington.

Washington officials, on the other point of view and the total of territory hand, reply that even the United concede the Israeli control of the guarantees kilometres and 100,000,- a global defence line uniformly that Imuel will show no aggres-

powerful, and that it must con- sive intention towards Egypt,

2,693,000 prisonercrals

lants

In

2

on

NO CHANGE LIKELY

to Akabą,

font control to 2,580,- † States is not strong enough to keep town in exchange for

under

sources,

10

OQU square 000 inhabitants.

In two and a half years, Chinese centrate its strength where it will The informed quarters said that Communists have captured 170 do the most good" In the view of

the agreement on Beersheba major towns, bringing the total un- these officials, Europe must

made today likely to ba priority over the Far East. der their control to 87.-.

ISRAELI TROOPS

REST OF THE CLAIMS

The mixed bog for the last two and a half years included the general headquarters of the military zono

NO DISCUSSION

have

Mr Royal anid there was no dis-

morrow.

шат

or 15-

On the question of Israeli troops the Egyp- tians are concerned with their pro of eleven army groups, of three clas-cussion of General MacArthur com- in the Eastern Negev, Giftention zones, of four reorganised ing back to the United States,

didn't say anything. and Iximity to Egyptian territory, main- "He armies with headquarters thrown in, didn't." Mr Royall asserted. taining they could constitute a milk-

ilons.

several months

of come 07 armies and 73 divisions. Latest available Agures on 'com-tary threat.

The statistics also claim 246 divi-parative United States troop strength The Israelis, on the other hand, sions, 504 regiments and 722 balia-in Europe and the Pacific area are argue that these men are needed to

ths old.

At that time face the Transjordan frontier pending Following are Kuomintang Hema there, were reported to be about an armistice settlement with King the Israelis listed as captured by the Communists: 20,000 in Europe and about 125,600 Alullah. Here again

1.480.000 rides and sub-machine

in MacArthur'a command which appear to have won their point and guns, 170,000 machine guns, 30,000 takes in Japan, Korea, Okinawa and informed quarters thought the Jews artillery pleces, 2,200,000 shells, some 220,000,000 cartridges, some 1,000,000 other Islands--Ansociated Press.

hand grenades, 38 planes, 242 tanks,

214 armoured cars, 772 locomotives and

cara-Associated 9,300 motor Tress.

press

APPEAL TO CHIANG?

Mr Walter Kcatos'

Condition

would be allowed to keep their forces

in the Eastern Negev subject to loose supervision by the Armistice Com- mission.

Both sides have already 'reached [astreement on two other points,

It was stated at the Queen Mary which had been regarded as among Nanking. Feb. 15.A Chinese Hospital this morning that the con- the conference's main dimeullies the

report sald today

dition of Mr Walter Kentes, editor-Egyptian-held coastal strip and the Canton legislatora referred the dis-in-chief of the China Mail, remains Southern Negov town of Bir Asluj (also captured by the Israelis in the putu of the Legislative Yuan's meet- | unchanged. ing place to Generalissimo Chlang

Mr Keates was involved in an nighting towards the end of last year.) the Gaza It was helloved that Käl-shek. If the report was correct, i neeldent on Monday evening, and is

(Continued on Page 5)

Buffering from a fractured skull coastal strip would remain in Egyp-

(Continued on Pare.5)

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