1949-05-20 — Page 1

*Drink

Coca-Cola

ka Cold

For the Proprietw 'of***.

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, Yer and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, KID:

The

TODAY'S WEATHKE: Light or moderate South or BW winds: Fair.

Noon Observallona: Barometria pressure, 1011.0 mba, 20,85 in. Temperature, 85.8 deg. F. Dew point, 16 deg. F. Helalivo humidity, 13, Wind direction,- 8 W, Wind force, 8 knoÍK.

· High water: 5 ft. 7 in. at 3.17 p.m. Low water: 1 ft. 0 in. at 11.41 p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph.

VOL. IV NO. 117

Britain Denies Making Contact With

Chinese Reds

}

:

Foreign Office London, May 19--A spokesman tonight categorically denied that Britain had established any official contact with the Chinese Communists,

He had been questioned about a report by Drew Pearson, who said today that Britain had proposed to the Chinese Communists a deal by which she would recognise their regime in return for an assurance on retaining Hong- kong as a British colony.

Official reports reaching London said that' British Consuls had not yet succeeded in carrying out instructions to establish working contact with Communist authorities in the main cities they control.

These instructions were given to the Consuls several weeks ago. Efforts to make contact were redoubled at the time of the shelling of the sloop Amethyst and other British warships in the Yang- tse River last month.

Consular contact with local Communist au- thorities would be without prejudice to the ques- tion of recognising a Communist Government..

The Foreign Office recently denied that any dis....... cussions on recognition were in progress.-Reuter..

Mr Bevin Is More

Briefed

Tearned that the Cabinet today gave the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bavin, full power to reject at the forthcoming Poris

Council meeting of the Foreten Ministers all proposals which, in any · way.... would favour Bovicilsation of many.

of

Oilfields Discovered

Situation Deteriorates

Shanthal, May 20. Local press reports 10- night spoke of a pre- cipitate deterioration of ilie Nationalist milltary front in the Lunghwa Area,

The official Central "News Agency falled to sup- ply the usual communique on tinis yesterday evening. In rainy, gloomy weather Shanghai entered the eighth night of siege with the symphony of gunfire eminously absent. In alt athiosphere of tension"the" city awaits the climax of the battle which some sources now believe to be Imminent.Reuter,

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1949.

Shanghai's Bund

Sealed Off

DRAMATIC

RED PILOT POLICE ACTION

ESCAPES

TO SWEDEN

Armed Protection

Stockholm, May 19. — Armed Swedish soldiers to night guarded the fully | · armed Soviet fighter plane in which a 27-year-old Rus

Air Force Heutenant landed on an airfield near here yesterday, Becking asylum.

The Cabinet endorsed Mr

Mr In Attack. Production tests at dark-complexioned pilot, whose

·

London, May 19-It was Karachi, May 10-More oil- Stockholm evening newspapers this measure-or- fields have been discovered in interpreted Pakistan at Charkwal in the dered by the Foreign Office and West Punjab, the Karachi the Military High Command-as branch of the Burma Oil a means of preventing "des- to destroy the Company announced today, perate attempts

aircraft and kidnap the pilot." A well which was drilled, to

The Foreign Office declined to depth of: 8,100 feet in this dis comment, Earlier today, it Gertrict-struck the limestone zone rejected

#

by the request similar to that at another well Russian Embassy here for Soviet which is already producing oil

officials to interview the short, next name is

No may

sce the lieutenant until--the Foreign Office Aliens Commission has considered his application to remain in Sweden as a political refugee, the Russian Embassy it was told. The pilot, who was the Socderkern London, Mny' 10.-The Mad escos from

John Edward Allen, mill

aerodrome to Stockholm Per said Britain's most elusive lunatic by two. flying squad cars, who has been at large for two that he was "tred of the Soviet years, was arrested In London system." Ile told the police that during last night,

he took off from an aerodrome

Bevin's proposal to oppase es-Chakwal will commence tablishment of united Gor-month-Associated Press.

Д many without sufflelent guar-

antees of democratic rights in

Arrested

the Eastern Zone The Cabinet The "Mad Parson' also studied plans which tho Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrel Viskinsky, might sub- mit to the Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Thus the possibility ok Soviet schemo

for German economic reunification on the busis of parity between the Western and. Eastern mark was discussed and branded unac- ceptable. United Press.

EDITORIAL

Parson,"

++

kept secret,

His arrest followed a visit by In White Russia and did "ziot" two plain-clothes policemen to fear reprisals, "as my wife has house in north-west London been sent to Siberia and we Reuter.

have no children."-Reuter.

Question Of Practicability

TF Mr Creech Jones meant anything at all in his House of Commons..reply. to Mr Gammans it is that the Imperial Government is toying with The Idea of imposing some sort of Immigration con- trol In Hongkong. It is to be sincerely Office before the Colonial hoped that

local authorities It will commits the acquaint itself with all the complications, difficulties and dangers associated with scheme of this nature. Hongkong

巍

last attempted Immigration control in 1940, and it became, by reason almost solely of its impracticability, a flasco, leading to a fruitless, if somewhat sensational inquiry. We cannot afford to have that repented. In 1940 control of immigration was attempted by issuing entry permits, valid for six months; entry -permits vaild for two years: frontier passes, valid for one year, certificates of four years, residence, valid for five years; certificates of ten years” residence, valid for five years; passports, valid for five years; travel documents, valid for the Journey or a stated period; transit visas, and entry visas. Theoretically this had. Immigration sewn up tightly; nobody but the most desirable people could come into. Hongkong. Unfortunately, in practice, it' did not turn out that way. An astonishing number of“ peculiar types flowed into Hongkong: so much so that when the Pacifc War broke out at the end of 1941 Hongkong boasted the largest population In Its 100 years of history and this, despite 12 months, of immigration con- trol: There are three regular" and accepted methods of movement between Hongkong And the hinterland-by train, river steamer or plane. But in addition, for those who will do anything to get Into the Colony from China there are other routes by small craft which can put in undetected at Innumerable poinia. within Hongkong's territory, and by foot,

creeping in over the long border which divides Kwangtung from the New Territories: In short, the smuggling of human

alongside the bodies operates smuggling of commercial' cargoes, and both can be profitable and successfül undertakings. Immigration control, or rather the establishment of machinery for such a purpose, whether it takes the form of registration or

was

as

Shanghai, May 20. Shanghai's teeming, noisy Bund with its row of imposing sky-

No-Man's-Land today scrapers Nationalist troops with bayoneted rifles barred all pedestrians, and traffic from the heart of the local business area.

Last night the police authorities had dramatically scaled.off the billion-dollar Burid area from the rest of the city.,

The order for the sealing off of the area was contained in an official announcement carried by the Nationalist Central News Agency yesterday evening. The announce- ment also said that the curfew on the Whangpoo River will be lengthened by another hour from today, starting nightly at 8 o'clock local time.

No official reason was given for the move which, however, is believed to have been

develop.. prompted by increasingly threatening ments in the Pootung ares where several. Com- munist columns, striking towards the bank of the Whangpoo River, are unofficially reported to be close to their objectibd

A view of the Shanghai Bund, seen from the former French Concession, which has now been sealed off by the city police, isolating the foreign business section from the rest of Shanghai.

પવન મા

the field.

workers

the

Dino

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

Pattern Of Reds' Southward Advance

Nam yung

Nanchang

Frogthong

Kar

Kiangsi

Kwangtung

CANTON

Kenyang

Hunchang

Buenow

Nanjang

Nahsten

Singan

Shaheter

Fukien

BYTOW

·Probable junction of Communist

Armies.

Kwangtung Threatened By Two-Pronged Drive

The

By the Telegraph's Military Observer

༤༢། } pattern

of Chinese Communist strategy in South China is becoming clearer. Every move that, Mao Tse-tung's forces make tends to support the view that, in their drive south to Canton, they are paying less attention to the Hankow-Canton Railway and are concentrating on two other alternative routes, through Kiangsi and Fukien provinces.

Both these routes are shorter and lead easily into Kwangtung. Besides these considerations, the Communists are familiar with the. terrain, having spent a long period in the area before undertaking their trek to Shensi.

Between these two routes, the Yungan, in Fuklen, therefore wards the Reds, if they are not less likely one they are going to looms as a probable key point actually Communists. The same Lake is south along the Kan in the Communists' southward is true of the East River region, River, in Klangsi. There are march. It is here that the forces all, the way to, Walchow and the- several obstacles, chief of which coming from the north and those delta district near Canton. are the better preparedness on coming from Klangsi are likely On Us route, the ground has the part of the Nationalist do- to effect a junction for a. coli-

on been well prepared for the fenders in the region, the certed drive into

cast Kwang- Communists by propaganda and tougher and more independent tung.

Yungan connected by Infiltration. They will enjoy character of the people and the road with Malhalen, where the greater facility. of movement greater natural hazards.

highway continues through and waste Icas actual military Mao's troops in Klanger have Hingning to Laolung, on the energy. already taken Fengcheng, south East River. of Nanchang, on the Kan River.

come in this Reports have

It appears that the Canton The situation at Changshu, south week that Communist guerillos authorities have fully appre this. of Fengcheng, and also lying on are

already the river, is confused, but it is Melhelen and in adjacent dia- may have been at the back of fra control at clated all these factors, and that seeking known that the town has been tricts, and that Laolung itself the declalon taken during

under strong attack.

highly

RIVER ROUTE

Hankow.

the

has been surrounded, These past week to put the elly in a areas are known to be ridden [stafa of war and to evacuate with elements sympathetic to-government offices.

Soviet Formula For Single

German Government

París, May 19--Diplomatic circles hero believed today that Russia might propose at the forth- coming "Big Four" conference a formula for a single German Government by combining thủ, pro- visional constitution' of the Soviet zone People's Council and the West German Basic Law agreed at Bonn.

The five-mile stretch of the Thousands of foreign and waterfront-from. the southern Chinese limit of the former French con-morning massed in side streets cession to Point Island in the leading to the Bund, Yangisepoo eastern district ways and means of reaching closed to civlitan movements is their respective hongs. the home of the majority

of The quiet of the eight and a commercial Shanghai's leading commere half hours curfew last night was and Industrial concerns.. the issuing of

The route along the river, disturbed only by the rumble of permits, travel documents, certificates Within the sector are located military truck convoys, most of if they should choose to follow such well-known, long-standing them hending northward with it, will take them to Klan and and visas, involves the creation of a large-

British firms as Butterfield & sicel-helmeted troops and sup- then to Kanchow, in the south now department, of files, of forms in

Swire, Jardine Matheson, the plea

of the province, whence they triplicate and the menace of graft and Hongkong & Shanghal Bank, the The

vital Lunghun airfeld could cut southwesterly into Chartered Bank, the Mercantile

in Kwangtung, and squeeze. And all this would be bearable

was this morning believed to be Namyung. Bank, the Asiatic Petroleum

still in Nationalist hands and at thence along the highway to if, at the same time, it could guarantee

Company (Shell), the North

on the Alenst an effective operation. Bat experience

China Daily News as well as the least one commercial plane was Kukong.

Canton Railway, or Bouth- nalatiol Cathay Hotel, does not hold out any such expectations,

Police Commissioner, easterly to Hoping and on tu Brush Consulate General and Colonel Mao Sen, announced Laclung, on the East River. Moreover, when dealing with movement

the Shanghai Club, renowned that heavy Nationalist units between Hongkong and China, It is

for its lang bar.

It seems that an advance along Other buildings in the area were being rushed to strengthen the Kan River is not the most necessary to remember that there is th

include the French 14-storeyed the defence of the city.

placed plan in Chinese existence a large number of genuino

ASSURANCE Messageries Maritime Building, a

GİVEN Communist military councils. linerant traders whose business (which

Other the American-owned Glen Line Meanwhil

Mayor,

Red troops southeast of aiter capturing benefits the Colony as well as them-

Building, housing the United General Chen Liang, refuted Fengcheng,

Nanteng, aru They suggested that Russlo dum rather than a-free, de- selves) is dependent upon freedom of

States Consulate General, the press reports that he has not Nancheng and

to the Hotel, the replied

humanitarian reported to have crossed into might use the recent voting for mocratic election-made them Chinnie-owned Palace moyement. To restrict them is to

Bank of China; the Central Bank offer of the International Com- Fukien at a point near the Kin the People's Congress-in much more: plausible as a trea restrict

and which a third of the electors expression . of opinion than if near Klenning a useful part of Hongkong's

mittee of the Red Cross: at River, the Bank of Comin Geneva. of

the over- Ninghwa. From this area, the opposed the oficial list of can- they had followed trade, and just how, through the process

the Customs House China Merchants Steam, Navi-Ma

H Mayor

Chen, Immediately probable, direction which they didates to force away, nil West whelmingly affirmative pattern of registration, can these people be legislated for without opening up the

gallon Company and across upon receipt of the letter from will take is towards Yungen, in German objections that the of other recent Communist elec- Soochow Creek in the Yangie Geneve," replied In a written the southwest of the province. Congress was not the expressions.

communication

This is only a subsidiary move sion of a tres election. on May 18 in possibility of an abuse of their dis

Congress voting People's poo the gigantic plant of the

main Com

fell short of tho democratic pensation? It would appear that the only

American-owned Shanghai which he said, "You can count Into Fukien. The

The main obstacle to the cubrantees West German, poll- munist drive here is atraight -way in which Immigration control has a Power Company on which the on me for my wholehearted gowns from the north, where captance of such a proposal is ticians regard, as indispensable,

endre metropolis depends for support and co-operation."/

rojection in advance by chance of operating here fa firstly to lay

power and als

'alselricity:

He

added, "I take this oppor- Pucheng, Chungan, Klenyang, the down a strict quota, and to back this by

tunity of reassuring you that at Klenow and Napping have been leading West German politi-in that they were of the basis `constitutional of a single list of candidates and solidly, barricading the border, and man- WHANGPOO DESERTED this critical hour nothing wil taken in rapid succession, Nan- cians of any

epposition was by returning a ning it, and simultaneously increasing Meanwhile, no fresh reports be more appreciative and wel- ping is on the fin River and discussion, with the People's the only method of recording

blank papor.Reuter, Grounds for our water patrols to apprehend Junks and on the military situation around come, than such help as your Less than 30 miles from Foochow Council or People's Congress.

this refusal were theShanghal-perimeter were organisation in sampans which may be attempting to

available this morning

be regarded as truly re- break the blockade. But is this practi

throughout the night only the noble,

Oslo, 19 Three people cable, any more then registration? We, occasional sound of artillery and alleviate

are and suffering by intern or admiliedly striking east the Soviet peupled halt af were killed and several injured wherdan Oslo-bound train suggest that Mr Creech Jones-weighs all-machine-gun fire was audible.

With the exception of a dozen in Red the factors before committing his depart-

haroused and I am forces are continuing to press |---

German Communists erdadiel Intö a standing, focomo= Should they ment or the Hongkong Government

fake have, by announcing the results tive near, Lillestroem tonight ed near Shanghal War Memo-

The first car of the "mali rint on the Bund; the whangpoo Looking forward to hearing onth something that cannot be carried out.

"you "again" about further Shabalen, their next obvinus of the young--which y in the River was a deserted body of developments of the Geneva objective would be Yungan, less opinion of most Western ob Norway Sweden Und was block- water on the proposal." —Reuler, ni jeho thần 20 miles south, Chen) Jadi pervers "amountsató) agréferen-led-Reuter,}}=

OKULE sahiliSIST

the capital of the province. to ex-

to

The

2 and stend gezwoontein Foochow may be the Com that neither of there still train: Smash:

Wort

Some observers think that munista" next objective. They

Louidi&

(or so:500-ton transporte, "bunch" | been 7272

UNETAnne has the same time other Communist Germany.

The

ན་

opinion in