1949-06-10 — Page 1

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Today's weather Moderate South or SW winds. Cloudy with occasional thundery showers,

Noon Observations: Barometric pressure, 1902.6 mba, 29.01 In Temperature, 24 deg F. Dew point, TB des. F. - Kolalivo humidity, 12. Wind direction, BW. Wind foree, 18 knots.

Low waleri 4 in. 4.38 pt

High water: 4 ft. 4 in. až 21.15 p.m.

Hongkong Telegraph

VOL. IV NO. 135

Electricity From Atom In 42 Years

Latest Prediction

Washington, June 9.-Mr David E. Lilienthal sald to-: day the Atomic Energy Commission expects to pro- duce electricity from the atom within 41⁄2 years.

The Commission pinns, ho suld, to break ground next Autumn for the first experi- mental reactors to do the work.

Mr Lilienthal told reporters of the plans after he and other Commission members had con- ferred with President Truman on the peacetime uses of atomic energy.

19

now

The Commission planning a series of reactors at Arco, Idaho, and is negotiating with the Navy for a mile there. Mr Lilienthal said the negotia- tlons are "proceeding natising-

, the choice of Arco for the reactors has brought protests from Montanone who went the plant located at Fort Feck in their stale.

In telling of the goat producing electricity,

Lilienthal sold:

for!

Mr

"We are trying to do in 43 years what might be expected to require 50 years."

VERY HIGH 'COSTS

He emphasised, however, that there was no expectation of being able to produce electricity for commercial use by that time. Costs would be too high.

of

The Atomic Commission made

S/Z E CHWAN

Chenglu

FKutsing

Iyang KWEICHOW

Vahshan

INDO

KWANGSI

Chang

Nawning

Q

| Drikket colony

CHINA dologjia acquéres de 2671

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1949,

Dina

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

NATIONALISTS DRAW UP A NEW DEFENCE LINE Woman's

WANGTUNG

Foochow FUKIEN

●HongKong

The dotted line, which starts north of Amoy, extends southwestward the corner of Kiangat, thence north to Hengyang, Chungking and info Szechuan,' is roughly the course which the new Nationalist defence lines la expected to lake.

WHANGPOO ΤΟ

STAY CLOSED

Shanghai, June 10. →→ Whangpoo River, Shanghai's shipping artery would not be re- opened to navigation until it had been definite- ly ascertained whether or not the River mouth had been mined and, if it had been, until after the mines had been cleared, the local Port authorities said today.

it

Foreign naval observers said, only two foreign ships bottled that two minesweepers, with up here by the closure of tho proper equipment and trained harbour which, however, personnel, could clear the har-maintained for any length of bour entrance of mines in

A time will have dire consequences natter of hours.

for the

population.

results from Twa bomdiate any the crippling of

lengthy paralysis of over- seas shipping would be, firstly, indutry because

in port al present but the naval There are no minesweepers observers said that any vessel at shallow draft could easily be converted into a minesweeper.

The Chinese Customs is be- con

of lack of fuel to Renerate Shanghai's power supply. In this

pany's tanker which was due to

its annu- report to the Preslieved to have several vessels connection the Texas Oll Com dent, surveying accomplishments of

shallow draft, the past

12 months in the boom, defence development of atomic energy.

Mr Lilienthal would not make Navy.

over by the United public the report. But he said that for the first time in its operations the Commission is close to the reality of atomic

power as a peacetime source of energy.

He added that President Tru- man is intensely interested in its peacetime uses.

He described the develop- ment of commercially-usable electricity from the atom as the greatest single technical prob- Jem the Commission has.

He would not say wheller atom bomb tests are planned. Associated Press.

EDITORIAL

declared

including put in here on Saturday will vessels turned now, because of the danger, pro-

States bably be diverted, Another foreign novol Secondly, delaying of the of foreign trade that the remumption authority" mining of an international ship would result in a heavy blowi

Industry way like the Yangtse entrance to Shanghai's

and was forbidden by International commerce, 11 blow whose Law.

ramifications

would extend Meanwhile, all foreign-ship-ncross the whole broad field of Industrial production, public ping has been diverted,

utilities maintenance and the Vessels

retention of labour.

which were on the way here included the President Polk and the President Madison In each of these it would be of Shanghai who which were originally due today the people and tomorrow respectively. would suffer and not the Com- Butterfeld & Swire's Sheng-munist war effort which would king and the Pacific Far East carry independently, Liner China Victory are the servers said.-Router.

We Are Still In The Dark

Is inconceivable that Mr A. V.

I Alexander's

ob-

programme. But, like His Excellency the Governor, we believe in hoping for the best, and at the same time preparing for the worst. Our hopes are sustained, and even rejuvenated, by reports from Shanghai that the Chinese Com munists

friendly, are

helpful and constructive: that they show no animosity towards foreigners; that they are in- terested in creating good relations with the non-Chinese. But on the higher levels--diplomacy and politics-contact has still to be made and relations solidifled. And in the absence of tangible evidence that this is taking place, we firmly believe in preparing for the worst. What is the worst that can happen to Hongkong? It can be the victim of a frontal military assault: it can Buffer from inspired internal disorders; or, the ultimate, it can be simultaneously sub- jected to both. This brings us back to whether, today, Hongkong is really pre- pared for is preparing) for the worst. There is reason to believe that our internal security measures are reasonably good-at least sullcient to cope with any sporadic endeavours to disrupt the normal life of the Colony. But we cannot express the same sense of patisfaction about opr preparedness for an external attack, - Our policy is unequivocally one of non- vaggression, but this carries with it the

corollary of fall ability to defend our selves against aggression. We are not, today, in position:to claim that immunity;. moreover, there is no hint from London Just when we shall be able to boast that dofenniyo position. Hongkong suffers at this moment from being in the dark: wo know neither when the Communists will be in a position to strike at us (If they so intend), or when we shall be well enough equipped to withstand any such assault. This is what has Hongkong worried: this is what Mr Alexander should tell the British Cabinet upon his return.

viell to Hongkong (brief though It WOR) could have We certainly produced negative results. hope that the Defence Minister has taken away with him a new and keener percep tion of the problems which this Colony belleves it is now facing. The difficulty la to find a dividing line which properly

local represents

apprehension about possible future developments

and an appraisal of the Hongkong situation viewed from the point of overall strategy, 'Hongkong, it is now well recognised, is a trading centre: it also happens to be a British possession, and as such is in- extricably fled to general considerations of preserving the British Commonwealth. Wherefore, it appears to be essential that In deciding on policy so far as relations with China are concerned, one aspect must not be allowed to dominate the other. How then to dovetail them so that Hongkong can still remain one of the greatest entrepot-ports in the world, and also sustain its integrity and sovereignty as a British possession? Enough has now been said,' in and out of the House of Commons, to satisfy that a broad policy of: conciliation, friendliness, and mutual respect for territorial, boundaries has been decided upon (so far as the Imperial Government is concerned) in any future relations with China. Nor is there any reason to doubt that IIM Government is prepared to place a' limitation on the bounds to which it will go fn order to maintain the security of liongkong. There still remains, however, the time factors. Firstly, how soon are the Communists likely to be in a position to threaten our frontiers? Secondly, how soon is Hong- kong" to be in a position to be able to face any such threat with equanimity? The Chinese Communists rany have the best intentions of the world about Hong- kong: It is possible that this Colony does not even find a place in their conquest

Attempt To Seal Off

Southern

And

Western Provinces

· Washington, Juno 9.-Dr Kan Chich-hou, personal re- presentative of the acting Chinese President, Li Tsung-jon, told the United Press today that he had advised American officials that the Chinese Nationalist government intends to draw up a strong defence line against the Communists from a point on the Central Fukien coast, approximately midway between Shanghai and. Canton.

Dr Kan said the defence plan which he outlined to the Acting State Secretary, Mr James Webb, ran from Central Fukien weet- ward through southern Kiangsi and Hunan provinces to Szechuan province border and thence northward. He declined to give specific points on this line. However, other informed sources said the line ran from a point on the Fukien coast north of Amoy to the important rail junction city of Hengyang in Central Hunan, where Chinese forces in 1944 put up an epic 47-day resistance against 350,000 Japanese before capitulating..

Britain's Strike Situation Worsens

London, June 9—Britain's strike, situation worsened today as 5,000 dock strikers at Liver- pool voted to remain out in sympathy with strik- ing Canadian seamen despite an appeal by the Labour Government to them to resume work.

these

Such a defence line, if it can be held, would seal the Chinese Communists off from the weathly southern provinces of Kwangtung, Kwelchow,

Kwangs!

Alleged Bigamy

Nora Patricia Baker, nged 30, married woman, of Hull, England, appeared before Mir d'Almada sk Centrat this morning charged with bigamy,

It was alleged that on Aurust 30, 1948. UzB defendant went through a form of marriage at the Supreme Court Registry with one Leulle

Ralph Smith during the lifetime of her husband, Albert William Baker.

At the request of Sub- Insp. Thomas, the case was adjourned for a week and the defendant was granted bail of $200.

5 Soviet Officers Attacked

By Angry Borlin Strikers

Vyshinsky Agrees To Something!

Actually Reverses Earlier Voto Paris, Juno 9. In dramatic last-minute rever Bal of his carlier veto, the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrei Vyshinsky, agreed today, to instruct the Soviet commander in Berlin to try to reach an agreement with. the Western commanders by next Monday on remaining blockade problems.

The US. Secretary of State, Mr Dean Acheson, had pro- of

posed that the Council | Foreign Ministers as a body In- struct the four Allled comman- ders to settle blockade prob- lems by next Monday

the

Mr Vyshinsky rejected proposal at the opening of to- day's meeting, felling the Coun ell It was "none of our busl ness....no blockade exista. things are going well in Ber- In,"

The Ministers then went on in what one Western delegato described as a "very bad" dis- cussion of the Berlin currency problem.

Just before, the meeting, the Berlin, June 9-Striking the Ministers returned to Mr longest of this ecesion, unded, and Yunnan as well as all railway workers today at Acheson's proposal for setting Western China and retain for tacked five Russian officers a deadline for settling all Berlin the Nationalists control of the in front of the Refchbalın

Blockado problems. southem ports

ports through which to building in the American

AT LAST MINUTE receive supplies from abroad.

sector of Berlin, They had Vyshinsky reversed his position At the last minute Mr Dr Kan's mission here is

18 to convince United States oficials built barricades in an effort and agreed to a modified version that the Nationalists can hold to starve the Russians from of the Acheson proposal. Ha this line and should be given the building.

still opposed the Council as such It was the additional military and economie second of clashes between ders in Berlin, but agreed that

sending a letter to the comman assistance, Dr Kan said he was "optimistic" over by United States officials,

his reception the strikers and the Rus- each of the four Ministers should glans in the building which | send a letter to his respective houses the management of commander.

Mr Vyshinsky's last-minute the Soviet-controlled Berlin switch appeared to have saved railway.

This Council

meeting from very early death. When Mr The strikers rushed toward the Vyshinsky vetoed the Acheson Soviet officers when they came plat the

time, the

flrat

THE BIG "IF" However, American sources sold his proposals for continued American aid so for are being treated "very cautiously."

Ometal sources indicated that out of the building to get food French Foreign Minister, M. unless they came into posses from two other officers who are Robert Schuman, was prompted

un-rived in an automobilio. Using to suggest that there was slon of information Nationalists' willingness ability to resist, they recommend against acceptance of Dr Kan's plan.

not

The Government rushed 1,000 troops from Southern England to Liverpool to unload 60 strike- bound ships. Other troops have been unloading the struck Canadian steamer, City of Montreal, at Avonmouth in Southwest England for two days.

The Government ordered out; ditional "lodging jums": It was

food cargoes as a protest against troops to save from spoiling..

"lodging turns" that the series Talks between management of strikes was launched. of

Government-owned

the event of the continued known to them cone the tong loaves of bread as clubs, much point in discussing any- "In the rallways and the National unomcizi

action of the men, it Union of Railwaymen collaps would of course be the Railway seemezi likely locomotive Executive's duty to close down And it crews would stage their fourth certain rections of the East Coast consecutive Sunday strike this group of lines-the area thus far weekend.

hit by the unnecessary waste.

"In view of the efforts being made by the Associated Society of Locomotive Enginemen and Firemen, and in the hope that they will be successful,

Railway crews aro seeking wage increases and rearrange

nent of weekend schedules to they need not spend Sunday nights away from home.

CLOSE DOWN. THREAT such action."United Press and The administrators of the Reuter. | State-run Railways today broke

the

and would

the Russians fought their way thing else as long as there could back into the budding.

be no

• no agreement on Berlin. "COMMUNIST SWINE"

However, discussion of cur- rency continued, with Mr

Dr. Kan refused to disclose The railway workers struck Vyshinsky unsuccessfully sug- any further details of his de out with their fists and shouted gesting that the Soviet mark bo, fence plan at this time.

Thera "Communist swine" at the offi- made the only legal currency

over in Berlin, much assistance the Nation-that was no indication of just how cers. The strikers tried

the automobile but the : The meeting was the longest alists warded from the Unite chauffeur managed to drive off yet, lasting from 2.35 p.m. to States. If the Chinese are able

Railway Executive is deferring to hold the line described weaving one officer stranded be- 7.15 p.m. GMT. Several dels-

Dr Kan, it would

mean that

Brig-General Frank Howley, proceedings as the dullest yet. United States commandant control of Berlin, carller they remained in more Chinese territory than strikers "will not be allowed to

said that

the end of the meeting,

gates left early, describing the

of

A FINAL "NO"

th

At

Mr

tho

and MR BEVIN NOT they did against the Japaness use physical force to keep any at the height of the Nipiese one from entering or leaving the southern and westward pene-building." tration in 1944.

(Continued on Page 5)

off negotiations with the rail- waymen's trade unions threatened to close down whole sections of the railway network If the locomotive crews persis- ted with their 24-hour "token" strikes each Sunday,

RESIGNING

Blackpool,

June

-Tho

Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest preanwhile, the State D

Its

to the

agreement

Acheson tried to got

inediately

to proceed im-

with discussions of Austrian peace treaty, but (Continued on Page 5)

ECA Accused Of Aiding

Britain's Socialism

Wasington, June 9.-- The Economic Co. operation Administration chief, Mr. Paul - Hoff. man, engaged in hot argument on Thursday with a member of the Senate Appropriations Commit. tee who contended that American aid is bolster. ing Socialism in Britain and other European countries.

in a

лго

spokesman, Lincoin This weekend there is a dan Bevin, haa ho Intention of

sald Dr Kan called on ger of disorganisation on most giving up his office, he stated Mr Webb and presented him of Britain's trunk railway here today,

with a letter from President routes. The Railway Executive

He told reporters after he LI. We have no comment on has been in almost

continuous had made his speech

at the the contents of that letter." negotiation for the last 10 days

conference that Dr Kan, accompanied by the with the two railwaymen's Labour Party

Ambassador, n. Dr unlons the National Union of resignation was not in his mind Chinese

Wellington Κου spent 35 Nallwaymen and the Associated when he used the phrase, Society of Locomotive Engine-leave this office-if age takes minutos with Mr Webb. After- toll or whatever happened" ward he told reporters that lie men and Firemen,

In his speech.

conveyed President Li's per- Tonight, the Railway Execu

"No, no, it was only

asonal assurance that "we can tive announced that it had been generalisation", Mr. Bevin sald hold out against the Com- unable to secure NUR.co operation in its efforts to avert with a smile. "It was just in munists?

lended

little encourage- another strike next weekend.

| MARSHALL`SYMPATHETIC | lads who are The Railway Executive can ro ment

Dr Kon sald in response to The Committee, hos given in their longer negotiate with the trade coming on."

own currency unions at a national level under Mr Hector McNell, youthful

questions, - "We can continus cold reception sa. far to Mr separate account. These duress," it stated. Two sets of Minister of Binto who often de- without American ald If neces. Hoffman's plea for the Senate called counterpart funds.). Begollations have been in pre-pulises for Mr Bevin, was

Mr Hoffman arguới that if which was approved by the US$1,000,000,000. gress between the Executive and standing near, and smiled, but we can hold on better not to reduce, further the figure

with American aid."

worth. the railwaymen, oho on

of House of Representatives. He disclosed that he find I begi

counterpart, funds are used by "lodging turn" dispute and the

in the

The House bill would give Britain to retire United States approxi other on a nationwide claim by

mately for three weeks. He said the ECA US$3,500,470,000 for then the only real benefit to the bo saw Mr Marshall last week the next fiscal year with ou and found him "sympathetic thority to use the funds in 10 government to a saving in

and a half months if President Interest. and enthusiastle." The Executive, in its state- London, June, The sailing

He reported that Mr Marshall Harry Truman should request He said that this would be so. ment today, added that it had of the 14,100 ton transport told him he would "do every

mall as to 'bave no effect on told the trade unions that fu

thing he can" on behalf of the

Scantur Homer, Ferguson, Re Socialism one way or another. ther negotiations on the claim Empire Trooper, which was

Chinese Nationalists' plan.

publican, Michigan, argued that He said that it would be no Dr for a wage increase and other due to leave Southampton

Kan said, "We have a "the minute you give ald to Bri- problem to get Britain to agres matters, que to be resumed to Friday afternoon with rein- definite plan which I told Me tain you are ading Shelslism's not to use counterpart funds for day-must be deferred, and forcements for the Hongkong Webb and Mr. Marshall and will progress." threatened in the event of con- garrison has been postponed toll President Truman."

one year, Ho

explained that Mir Hoffman retorted. "I do this would only mean that timied unofficial action, to close for at least 40 hours because He has asked for an appoint- not think so."

that the funde could not be used to "put', down certain sections of the area of a

.a boller'defect.

nont with President Truman The argument developed into down inflationary pressures." thus far, hit by the strike to avoid

The defect was

discovered but had not yet received a technical debate on economies But Sermior Ferguson unnecesary warto.

date.

Involving Britain's use of coun- Senator Allen Ellender, The National Union of Rail-tallon the Argyll and Suther wayment; precipitated

that anything done for Britain crisis situation by declining to the ship after a train Journey enthusiastle" in his reception (For each American dollar of helps the Labour government id withdraw an Instruction to is from Colchester,Associated of the Nationalist plan-United aid the participating ECA its nationalisation programma.m | members to refuse to work ad- | Fress,

Press

nations put up a matching sum Associated Press,

the Reuter,

the railwaymen for a 10 shilling

wago Increase.

MUST BE DEFERRED

Troopship Has Boiler Trouble

on

public debt,

and

when men of the First Ba!--| de Kan 'Baid that Mr Webb terpart funds which are part today's Innd Highlandery...: had boarded inlso was "sympathetic?.. 'and } tho ECA programme, v Page Democrat・ Lauisiana, insisted