1949-03-18 — Page 1

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VOL. IV NO. 64

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Today's Weather: Moderate East winds;" cloudy. Noon Observations: Barometric pressure, 1818.8 mba,, 30.09 Temperature, 69.5 dex, F. Daw.polat, 80 deg. F. Relative humidity, 73. Wind direction, East. Wind force, 1 knol

Low water: 1 ft. 4 in, at 6 p.m. High water: 6 EL. 6 in, at

· 12.45 a.m. (Saturday),

hongkong Telegraph.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1949.

ITALIAN PARLIAMENT IN UPROAR

Still Less Meat For

Britons

Cut To 10d Worth

A Wook

London, Mar. 17-Bri- tain's slender ment ration is to be reduced from March 27 from a shilling to 10d. a week, Dr Edith Summer- skill, Parliamentary Secre Lary to the Ministry of Food. announced in the House of Commons today.

Eightpence of the 10d. will be carcase meat and the re- mainder in canned corned ineat.

Dr Summerski, deputising Mr for the Minister of Food, John Strachey, who is it with influenza, fold Parliament: "Shipments from the Argentine have not improved ind the further reduction has become Inevitable."

last During the

four mouths of 1948, we re- ceived only 5,500 tons of ment from the Argentine as against 130,000 tons we had expected to get."

HIGH LEVEL PRESSURE She said that in view of the Ambassa- position the British

dor in Buenos Aires had been. Instructed to "bring pressure on the Argentine Government

nt

the highest level to speed up shipments."

When the Andes agreement, covering the Argentine's meat contract for Britain ended in February, she sald 108,000 tons,

increase in supplies in 1040 depended, she said, on the outcome of the negotiations with the Argentine for a new agree- ment-Reuter.

OVER ATLANTIC ALLIANCE

Members Fight, Kick

And Scream

POLICE BREAK UP RED

DEMONSTRATORS

Rome, Mar. 17. Police tonight charged Communist demon- strators marching towards the Chamber of Deputies. Some people were slightly hurt. This latest clash followed a stormy day in which Italian Members of Parliament had fought, kicked and screamed for several minutes in the Chamber.

Tonight the police closed the area around the Chamber and when the Communist demonstrators appeared, jeeps, packed with steel-helmeted police, charged the crowd with howling sirens.

In the Chamber, after 26 hours of nonstop debate, deputies of all parties tonight sat back wearily in their red leather seats and pre- pared to face another night of filibustering against the Atlantic Pact. At 5 p.m., more than 70 Communists and Socialist speakers, each with 10 minutes at his disposal, remained on the speakers' list. Four attempts by left wing deputies to halt the session for a brief period of repose had been defeated.

depuiles

20 hours.

WOD

Outside. In the setting spring The uproar interrupted a de- Union members were ordered to stop work early today, and or over a quarter of the carcase sun, squads of steel-helmeted bute in which extreme left de

to stop meat provided for in the agree-armed police took up position puties are trying to take the trams and buses were

round the Chamber to prevent debate to death." They had work for an hour this afternoon. ment, remained unshipped.

demonstration by talked for 25 hours and it was Labour leaders called this a If we try to maintain the any mass

marathon orgaalsed estimated that the who

"first protest,” present ration, even for a short Communists,

Reuter's

correspondent, Henry perlod, our stocks would almost one-hour strikes in Rome fae- might go on for another 15 to

Buckley, wrote tonight: Poli- immediately fall below the mini-tories this evening.

were The Chamber battle began en observers

convinced mum level at which a nation- Inside, Communist

that Signor Togliatti, wide distribution can be main-shouted at the Government that when left wing deputies began tonight

Communist leader, tained and the ralion honoured," [Parlament was surrounded by their buster against a vote of the

on the Premier,

weight of she declared.

armed forces and seemed in a confidence

Signor Alcide de Gasperis, At-rowing the whole

his two million

Com- strong state of siege. An

lantic Pact policy.

party into the fight the proceedings, Earlier in

Anar riot ensued when the munist

against the Government in a Communist shouts of "mur-

Communists, desperate bid to stage as big a bud Premier spoke. derers" and criminals"

ant Christion De protest as possible against the Interrupted the debate when it Socialists

struggled, mocrats

wome Atlantic Pact. was announced that a man had shricked insults and had to be

-killed-and-two others been

injured In clash restrained by their male col-

a seriously between the police and anti-pact.leagues, Including the

Palmiro demonstrators at Terni, 50 miles munist leader, Signor

Togliatti north of Rome.

While the Chamber continued in living rowdiest session history, the Rune headquarters of the Communist-led National

one-hour strike in protest against the pact.

LORRY ACCIDENT KILLS SIXTEEN

17-Sixteen Istanbul, Mar. persons were killed and 17 were critically injured in the crash of

a lorry loaded with passengers

50 MPs FIGHT

A fight followed on the for of the House, in which about 5

Observers believed the Com Communists and Soviet Russha had ir hoved until the last at least to

keep Italy neutral,

The delaying tactics of the extreme left deputies were ex- pected to continue through the night, and it seemed the vote-

Five are boats and all

of Tacoma, Washington Stale, fire apparatus fought a blaze at the. Portacoma Municipal dock area, to prevent it spreading nearby

to warehouses. A 300-foot section of the 750-foot pler was damaged, Damage was estimated at about $100,000.-AP Picture.

All-Out Offensive

By Burmese Forces

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DAMAGING Nanking

BLAZE To Accept

Western Germany

Waits For

"End Of World"

Frankfurt, Mar. 17-A minor panic. gripped rural areas of Western Germany today over rumours of the "end of the world.” The rumours that today was the last day for mankind had been growing throughout Ger- They were based many for several weeks. upon a publicised prediction of an astrologer whom nobody could identify.

Most city dwellers went gaily and sceptically about their work as March 17 dawned blue and bright. But reports from Bavaria said that super- stitious country folk were locking to churches and making their wills.

Peace Proposals

LATEST REPORT

Shanghai, Mar. 18.-Tho Government's answer to the Chinese Communist eight- point peace programme was today reported to have been completed by the 10-man committee headed by former Premier Sun Fo.

A very reliable source told the United Press that the official reaction to Mao Tze-tung's can- ditions has been studied by Ll

is now

before

Ho Ying-chin, who is not expected to make known his | opinion pending a review by the Cabinet which he is now lù the

process of organising.

As outlined by the informant. nimost outright acceptance of at least

Bix of

of the eight points would be agreed to by Nanking. As known for some time, tho

215

demands for the punishment of those the Chinese Reds listed as war criminals and the reorgani→ sation of the Kuomintang mili- tary are the two major points which the Nationalists are not willing to accept on the Red terms.

The first condition war criminals-reportedly brought the committco's opinion that there would he considerablo difficulty in defining the term "war criminal in a civil war. Considerable Idai reviewing was predicted by the committee in connection with that point.

NOT BIG OBSTACLE The No. 2 point on the abon- tion of the present constitution, It was sald, offered no major obstacle,

Kuomintang acknowledgment that the current government 1 illegal, the third point in Mao's 1st, reportedly brought a com- mittee recommendation that dis-

of the National solution sembly and Legislative yuan la not impossible, but contained a that any counter proposition coalition government that might be formed should not be under the control of any one party.

The Army reorganisation was In the Bayrliche Wild, alculated that today would bring the fourth point,liere again on the de- cut the outbreak of a 17. furious blizzard lost night

new world agreement hinged Rangoon. Mar.

finition. The Chinese Com- of the

munists used the term "along Burmese Government forces electric power cables and caused war but not the end

considerable excitement, reporis | world.

democratic principles." The and have started an all-out offen-fros Passa said.

Communist Reports said that wives there Kuomintang

of "democratic" The reports said that altors refused to let their husbands interpretation sive against the insurgents

offers a chance of the greatest concentrated near the rice the exporting port of Bassein. were put up in homes and that leave them this morning.

divergency. The Committee was with Jammied

Church lenders and scientists said to have made a thorough would not be taken until early

a Government com- and refused to be calined by "nonsense." goon, tomorrow afternoon.-Reuter. WHERE ATLANTIC PACT munique stated tonight.

WILL APPLY

Heavy casualties bad been indicted on the insurgents In this sector, the communique said. It added that units of the frightened folk asking the exact

hour of the expected Burma Navy attacked a com-

trophe. munications headquarters of the rebels car Maubin, midway between Rangoon and Bassein,

vole of confidence

of

churches. were

near Tarsus, Southern Turkey, deputies of the opposing factions Confederation of Labour called Premier's Atlantic Pact policy~~ 70 miles northwest of Run- people who prayed for fours labelled all the excitement es study of the Marshall mission

press reports said today.Asso- | fought and kicked each other

until separated by ushers. ciated Press.

EDITORIAL

Cautious Revenue Estimates

CLOSER study of the Colony's

A Estimates for 1949-50 reveals how

has

typically conservative Government been in dealing with prospective revenue. In seven items the estimates for the coming financial year are slightly higher than the original 1948-49 estimates, but considerably lower than the revised figures. This, in itself, does not call for carping criticism, but it is a fairly eagey method of prognosticating, and is a virtual guarantee that when next, finnn-` elal year ends total revenue will amount to not less than the original estimates. In fact, by past experience, and in consequence of present indications, re- venue by this time next year can be expected to exceed, nat inconsiderably, the cautious figures presented to the The memorandum on public this week. the Estimates makes grent play of the of the phenomenal building activities past year which resulted in big revenue increases through Sand Monopoly re. ceipts and water charges: and the argu ment is advanced that the same, amount next of income cannot be anticipated

of a because of the likelihood year slowing down in property development. Justification for this conclusion is not still seriously apparent. Hongkong is Bhort of essential buildings-domestic, commercial and industrial: and while building costs are still very high, they are not increasing; wherefore it would seem that continued attempts will be made in the future to meet demond with supply in this direction, and that building will continue apace. Unless, of course, Government is anticipating a general

It

economic depression, of which there are few signs at the moment. This could also explain why Government "does not consider It would be safe to count on receipts from Entertainment Tax and Betting and Sweeps Tax remaining at quite such a high level as during the present year." If present signs mean anything revenue from these sources should not only equal the 1918-19 figures, but may quite likely surpass them. will require

slump a serious economic to dissuade the public of Hongkong from its film-going and its Happy Valley punting! And a recession of any impor- tance must depend. very largely on world conditions, which, apart from political uncertainties, remain favourable. A sub- stantial buyers' market is stilt in exis. fence, although it is conceivable that prices will shrink as supply gradually

démand. overcomes

The probability. however, is that world commerce will remain bouyant for some time to come, und can only be gravely jeopardised by an international conflict which, of course, would affect Hongkong the same as the rest of the universe. His Excellency Govern- the Governor suggested that ment WIN budgetting "conservatively but not pessimistically." By Hame token the revenue forecast can hardly be described as optimistic. Our own conviction is that when next will be found that March arrives it receipts for the year considerably ex- ceed those ofelally estimated this week, and that once again a tidy, balance will be available for the reserve account.

the

The Hague, Mar. 17. The Belcian Congo will, not be in cluded in the area to be covered by the Atlantle Pact, it was learned authoritatively here to-

night.

A member of the Parliamen- lary Foreign Affairs Committee said the area to which the pro- visions of the Atlantic Pact would apply included:

1.The European territories of the signatury nations.

priests.

The official weather station at said it had Ries near Passau received many calls

discussions of 1940 and was said In a Frankfurt enfe, a portly not to have found any hope in German bartender commented, the proponis of those days that "the beer is flowing an usunt and might solve the current prob- to commend as long as the beer flows the lem. It decided from

world is okay."-Associated that the issue should be thrashed

(Continued on Page 5)

catas-

NUREMBERG RUMOUR

Frankfurt weather station The communique reported said it had received dozens of "all quiet" on tho Central and calls, mostly from farmers. Upper Burina fronts,

The Geophysical Institute of Mr J. A. Dirss, Manager of the Frankfurt University said it had Installa- been called by persons asking The North Atlantic Pact Burnin Oil Company

lion at Dunneedaw, a Rangoon If an earthquake was expected. area, including its islands.

In Nuremberg, a rumour cir 3.-The three French depart-suburb, was shot at and slightly wounded when driving his car ments of Algeria.

4-The

home last night. His wife, who of Germany and Austria hurt.

was in the back seat was un- Zones

A bullet, which pierced The Cornmiliter member inade

Western 'occupied

PREMIER ON MISSION

this statement today after the his left leg, was removed today combined session of the Foreign and he is making progress. Affairs Committees of Belgium's Chamber and Senate necting behind closed

which doors at the Premier, M. Paul Henri Spank, read the text of the pro- posed Atlantic Pact,

M. Spaak also reported on the London of recent

meeting in. the Western Union Consultative Council. The meeting insted one hour. Members of the Commit- here tees said that there would be ro communique.

at the M. meeting the meifle and defen- sive nature of the pact,

DEFENCE IMPOSSIBLE

known.

Pacific Pay For Canadians

It was officially learned today that the

Premier, Burmese

Ottawa, Mar. 17.-The De- Thakin Nu, flew to Shwebo, 60 fence Minister, Mr Brooke Clax- miles west of Mandalay, todayton, today said members of the The reason for his visit is un-

Canadian ll-fated

Hongkong expedition would receive Pacific to other Canadian A Government spokesman pay similar

denied that "Burmeze veterans who fought in that Ministers or other persons" had aren." " accused the British Mission in

Pacific pay ranged from 30 of abusing their position. Burma

for privates to a cents a day The spokesman was com-dollar for majors and up. Pacine menting on n question by Vis- pay never applied to the Hong- "It is not in contravention of Count Swinton In the House of kong Chandians.

Spook stressed

Lords.

Members of the Royal Rent- the existing Anglo-Soviet and he alliances,"

. The

Am-ment of Canada, of Quebec City Burmese new Franco-Soviet sald. M. Spook claimed that if bassador to Britain, Uul Ohn, and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles the United Nations had func-aald on his arrival in Southamp- landed in Hongkong just before tioned normally, the North At- ton today that the Karens had Japan struck in December, 1941. Iantle Pact would not have been Communist help in certain areas, and they were captured.

In Central Burma, particularly, necessary.

Tha military defence of Europe they were working closely to

impossible without

the gether, won United Nations, he said.

Me Ohn denied that the cussion in the House, Mr Clax- Thakin Nu Government was ton said they would get extra wenkening and said that "given pay for the period from their

Conado until sufficient arms and good will," leaving

twa their return... revolt would be months after

United Press.

M. Spaak said the pact would be valid for 20 years and would ba subject to revision after 10

years.

(Continued on Page 5)

the Karen crushed-Reuter,

Since their release, the two regimenis have asked for Pacific considerable dis- pay, Alter

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