1949-06-16 — Page 1

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TODAY'S WEATTIER; Variabin winds, Squally at times. Weather cloudy with heavy thandery showers.

Noon Observallonsi. Barometric pressure, 1904.0 mbs., 29.65 ht. Temperature. - 88.8 - der F. Dew point, 78, dag. P. Relative 'humidity, 14 Wind direction, BW. Wind forse, 10 knots.

te Low, waleri 1

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Hongkong Telegraph.

VOL. IV NO. 140

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1949.

Big 4 Discuss Austrian MORE SELF-RULE FOR

Railwaymen Expected To Return To Work

London, June 15.-Bri- tain's vital trunk railway routes, which have been crippled for the past five weekenda by 24-hour strikes, expected to resume normal working next week- end.

aro

After talks between the Exe- cutive of the nationalised Rail- ways and the National Union of Railwaymen, it was announced tonight that the negotiations on wage clans would be resumed next Monday if the men work- ed normally on Sunday..

The Ministry of Labour to- night announced that the Execu- tive of the National Union of Railwaymen had informed the Minister of Labour that they i were confident that the measures they had taken and were con templating would ensure full normal working next Sunday to far as their members were con- cerned,

Peace Treaty

Secret Session Cancelled:

Bevin's Lonely

THREE FIRM

Afternoon

RESULTS

Paris, June 15.-The "Big Four" Foreign Ministers, after a 75-minute secret session tonight, issued an official communique saying that they had discussed during the past few days "an Austrian treaty and a modus vivendi relative to the situation in Germany'

The communique said that the Ministers had adjourned until tomorrow after the delegations had presented different proposals.

A French Foreign Office spokesman said that "in principle" tomorrow's meeting would be the last.

Tonight's meeting, held at the French Foreign Office, was the shortest of the present conference.

French sources called it "an ultra-confidential working sea-

sion."

The Ministers had cancelled their carlier secret meeting at the Rose Palace where all other discussions were held at the request of the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrei Vyshinsky. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, was the only Foreign Minister to arrive at the Rose Palace for the cancelled session.

Mr Dean Acheson, the United States Secretary of State, who was to have presided, had been unable to tell him of the can- cellation in time,

His solliary afternoon at the

Mr Vyshinsky asked for time] to consider them.

Probable concrete results of the Paris conference, authoriin- | At his request it was initially tive French sources said, were The Railway Executive later

decided to delay the start of the as follows: stated that it tho NUR - surance

meeting and then to adjourn it had

anticipated tha

either until later in the day or far advanced that it could be (1) A renty with Austria so result, they would be prepared

tomorrow. to meet the Union on Monday

Meanwhile, Mr Vyshinsky signed in the near future. dispose morning to

of the Vyshinsky's stroll in the Bola union's circular letter on lodg- Do Boulogne yesterday, whom telephoned Moscow, and was

(2) The "certainty" that the later able to agree Ing -turns, which has been the secret session was adjourned

Berlin blockade would not be.re portly the causo of the dead- for two hours while the Wes- Jock in the negotiations.

Assuming that was satisfac torily adjusted, the negotiatious with all the trade unions.con- corned on wages could be

after immediately resumed wards "If convenient, next

Monday afternoon," the Railway Executive said.

Palace corresponded to Mr unfil

to

the

tern Powers considered the new Office, 1a at the French Foreign | established.

on

Soviet counter-proposals to their own joint plan submitted Sunday,

Authoritative French sources Eave this explanation of this afternoon's cancelled meeting. the Soviet proposals on Berlin Western counter-proposals to

and East-West

German trade

BERLIN CITY GOVT.

Berlin, June 15-The Western allies cancelled 500 directives of the past four years in Berlin on Wednesday to give the city government more self-rule.

Western Berlin is not operating on a basto law that alves the Socfailast-controlled magistrales considerable les- way in running its affairs.

The allies have retained by and large their powers only on international quesitons and security.

The list of cancelled orders went by the Western govern- ments to Lord Mayor Prof. Emest Reuter included such directives as imposition of curfew restrictions, repairs for schools and labour courts and food distribution.

The Western olleisis also discussed in a two-hour meet- ing on Wednesday the rail strike attuation without de- elding on a future course,

The strikers rejected a Four Tower compromise offer on Tuesday.

In another move to delegate more power to the Ger mans, the West dissolved the Berlin Collection Commission which served as agency to receive debt payment for Berlin banks which lay dormant since the war. A new committee will be get up to deal directly with the clty government and the Berliner Zentraal Bank, Associated Press.

WERE V

Cominform Plan To Quash Tito Believed Finalised

Warsaw, June 15-According to reports here today, Eastern Europe's third Comin- form meeting-to execute the Soviet demands for economic sanctions against Marshal Tito's Yugoslavia has now ended. No confirma- tion was possible, but the tone of the press and the absence of top Polish Communists, and the rumours emanating from responsible Polish Government quarters, are strong signs that an all-Slav, if not a full Cominform meeting, has taken place, and that final plans to quash Marshal Tito were top priority items on the agenda.

Ministers abandoned trade with Yugo Offends The

Poland, unlike Hungary and The four

Ministers were

(3) Establishment of contact Czechoslovakia, bas

not yet tho assisted only by Mr Charles between

four Bohlen and Mr Robert Murphy which, from now on, would slavia, afthough in January the for the United States, Mr Andre have a "permanent character."! sloshed exchanges for 1040 to Smirnov for Russia, General The French Foreign Minister, one-Aith their previous volume. Sir Brian Robertson for Britain M. Robert Schuman, told the

A severance of diplomatic re- and M. Alexandre Parnodi for French Cabinet carlier today, the most likely next step.

lations is considered here as France, these sources sald after

00-minute meeting of

12

Mr Vyshinsky was smiling the three Western Foreign

Poland and Yugoslavia have.

Pope's Honour

Ding

At the

For

P.G

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

Colonial Office

Pays Tribute To H.K.'s Ingenuity

Recovery Achievements In Far East "Quite Remarkable"

London, June 15.-A tribute to the men whose ingenuity has helped, since the war, to rebuild the shattered economies and social services of the Far East, was paid in a Colonial Office report issued today.

The document, entitled "British Depon- dencies In The Far East," describes achieve- ments in Malaya, Hongkong and Borneo terri- tories as "quite remarkable."

Among instancos quoted of ingenuity are the manufacture of reinforcing rods for use in building, from steel salvaged from wrecks in Hongkong harbour.

Of the men who overcame shortages of staff and equipment, the report said, "They ransacked dumps for spare parts and for machinery: They Ahowed the greatest patience and persistence in tracing machinery removed by the Japanese."

"They salvaged every scrap planned, ranging from technical of steel from bomb debris. They colleges to fisheries research devised new methods of build-slations, from tuberculosis

ing, using local materials. They settlements to mineral surveys. used timber where previously In spite of the solid achieve they would have used steel and menis, the report sold, there cement. They made the utmost of the boon of Bailey Bridges stresses, and much remains to are continuing problems, and And they coaxed now service be done in conditions in which from ancient machinery, which, there are many "Imponder- theoretically, should have been ables". scrapped long since."

The cost of reconstruction has The work of reconstruction, mudo heavy inroads on the the report said, had to be un- finances of the territories, and dertaken at a time of world none la in

in a position to under-. shortage, especially of steel and take the expansion of-social ser- machinery while“ professional vices-on-a-scale-it would wish. and, technical staff had proved Tuberculosis conalitutes difficult to recruit,

serious health problem, and allied with it is the problem of gross over-crowding in urban areas, coupled with rapid-

in

In addition, there was Malaya a Communist Campaign of violence.

a

ly increasing urban populatley

SOME ACHIEVEMENTS In Malaya the bandit

has imposed a further heavy Among achievements, reflect- burden of expenditure on the Rome, June 15-Laura Dies, ing the speed with which stable Government, which help from black-government, efficient adminis- the United Kingdom will lighten 21-year-old beautiful,

be tried soon on charges

The rallwaymen's leaders said | submitted yesterday were sent broadly when he left the meet Ministers, that the "Big Four óxchanged diplomatic notes for haired Communist Senator. will tration and public services have | but not remove.":

that a substantial number

men would stay at work

weekend.-Reuter,.

EDITORIAL

r

of to Mr Vyshinsky before this

Ing.

Reporters questioned him but this afternoon's sessions was due to he replied in Russian which

start.

could not be understood.

Constitutional Reform Issues

item of Is presumed that one Importance for discussion at the next meeting of the Legislative Council will be the notice of motion relating to the re constitution of the Council Several weeks have elapsed since Mr D. F Landale introduced the subject and it has been vigorously discussed, pro and con, through the forums of the Hongkong Reform Club, the Chinese Reform Club and the newpapers., Up to a point there has been some crystallisation of public opinion. The Hongkong Reform Club has given the Landale proposals full sup- port, principally because the majority of members feel that reconstitution of the Legislative Council is of greater moment than creation of a municipal council with

its restricted functions. The Chinese Reform Club, though not opposed to the Idea of a new type of legislature, take the view that Immediate functioning of a municipal council is of paramount Importance; they also disagree with Mr Landale's conception of how a revised Legislative Council should be constituted-- firstly they desire that all. Unofficials should be eletted; secondly that Chinese. representatives should be predominant. Thus it is apparent there, is still division of opinion as to what form constitutional reform should take'and how it should be applied. And it is conceivable that Another element may yet be introduced to cloud still further the issues at stake: for example, amendments on the part of Unofficial Members of Legislative Council to the Landale, proposals. In any event, the original notice of motion introduced by Mr Landale" requires to be more specifle, before it can be Intelligently debated, and for this reason, any amend- ment which serves this purpose would not be unwelcome. Any resolution put before the Counell on this subject should, deal specifically with the following pointa: the total number of members when the Council is fully constituted: the total

ם

the

news'

offending the Pope's honour, in the following:

of been restored, the report listed

SOME QUESTIONS

The report ended with a list of questions-on -answors - ta which the future of Far East territories depends.

These questions word: The spcod with which bandits cah be Anally eliminated. Whethe stable conditione in South

Hongkong's

Powers might reac

reach agreement on an Austrian peace treaty, be- eight months, although Yugo fore September 1.

slavia

was the first. Eastern a political speech last year.

Record prodduction

(408,000 Breaking through the

European, country to signa Her parliamentary immunity tons) of rubber in Malaya in blackout which has covered the mutual aid pact with Poland in

1016

az a Senator was lifted when a 1048... proceedings of the conference

Chamber of Deputies sub- Record production of rice in since Sunday, the pro-com-

OTHER SUBJECTS | committee authorised the trial. Malaya in the 1947-48 season munist newspaper Ce Soir gave

No date of the trial has been (343,000 tons from the record following account of the In addition to action against set, counter-proposals by Mr Vy Yugoslavia, which the Comin- The Italian law strictly pro-

acreage of 625,000). " shinsky in answer to the joint form expelled last year, the

Record production of petro secutes offences against the West trade put forward three cussed China, Germany, Grecce under the 1020

largest producer states. The Pape is recognised

la the prosperity depends, are now Commonwealth. days ago:

Italo-Vatican and a settlement of the religious

The effects on Malaya's likely. pact problems of Eastern Europe.state.

Other Items of progress re- as the chief of

D sovereign SOVIET PROPOSALS

corded in the report are the fact rubber and tin, of syntholic rubber production In the United The meeting,

Davido Lojold, director of that more children according to the Milan's "These proposals suggested

States

and tho Communist

revival rumours, was held in a remote "Nita" recently received

branch. school than ever before in the that the Council

of Foreign area of Polish Lower Silesia, eight-month suspended sentence Borneo territories, health was in

Federation, Singapore and the Indonesian competition. Ministers should be maintained where

The report further asked,

on

West plan for Berlin and East-meeting is believed to have dishonour of the heads of foreignetun from fields to Brunei, now which

1947,

the now

discredited M.

the

were at

and meet periodically and that Polish Communist

for such un offence. He was many respects better than ever Can rubber small-holdings in a 'Committee of Continuation Wladyslaw Comilla, entertained ordered not to repent his attacks before, power, water supplies- Malaya and Borneo be re- be set up in Berlin to maintain the late Andre Zhdontertained on the Pope in the columns of and communications were re-vitalised and the industry as 战 contacts between the Big Four first Cominform meeting his nowspaper. --- Associated habilitated, and there was re whole increase its emciency and

in Press.

markable expansion

Its costs? eivil reduce

Will world aviation.

production of tin outstrip de- As an instance of Ingenuity mand and lead to a slump in the report recalled

Can new resources of that in price? Malaya there was the adaptation ore be found to replace these of Igloo. acroplane hangars as now approaching exhaustion?" roofing for new railway sheds.

between sessions.

"Under its authority, would

bo placed an all-German econo-M. George Malenkov, Deputy mic organisation representing Chairman of the Soviet Council 5,000

zonal

01

to

the

IRAQI

The success of the new Cons stitution in Malaya' will depend

number of Officials and the total number of Unofficials; whether all the Unofficials should be elected, or whether · election should apply to a stated number, with the remainder made up of nominated members; the qualifications to be on Unofficial: the extent of the franchise. Unless all of these fasues are covered when the subject is next introduced in the Council (whether under the original Landalo notice of motion or any amend- ment to the resolution and the dis- cussion will be futile. And in the

East and West, which would of Foreign Ministers, is consi- framing of any resolution, it la of first study the problems of inter-dered a probable successor importance that consideration be given

| TROOPS MASS exchanges and all com-Zhdanov, who "fathered" tha to the question of the Municipal Council.

mercial questions."

Cominform, and he is reported Conference observers deduced to have been in Poland after the H. Zaim, chief of Syria's interim Damascus, June 15-Colonel

PREFAB HOUSES The Ordinance under which auch

on good understanding botwoen that because General Sir Brian recent Czech Communist rally government, told the American,

the Central Government and the administrative body can come into

Robertson was Mr Bevin's sole [in Prague,

In Singapore, the report poln-Governments 'of constituent being has now been printed and published,

adviser at tonight's secret ].'

British, Egyptian and Saudi-led out, 876 prefabricated con- States and Settlements. Can this and normally it would

Poland's session the main subject of the now only await

representatives at Arabian Ministers here today crete houses had been built by be assured? discussion was the petual situa- the third Cominform seeston that

that 5,000 Iraqi troops are the end of 1948.

"Finally, Malaya's political Its three readings and then become law.

tion in Germany.

are believed to have been M. was understood that he Informed port said, are also going aheading of both Malays and Chinese,, massed on Syria's border. It Development schemes, the re-stability, as well as the well-be- But it may be necessary, in order to allow The failure to settle, the West Jakub Berman, Under-Secretary the ministers any resolution passed respecting re-

Berlin railway strike must have of State, and M Illary Mine Syrian troops to the frontier, from the, Colonial Development promise between the two peoples. that he ordered with the help of allocations depends on harmony and com- direct

any, the chief economic planner, both recalled repercussions constitution of the Legislative Council to

modus

vivendi,

since it is stated to be absent from the from Iraq and would sever diversity

Syrian Minister and Welfare Funds great Will wise and moderate leader-. be brought to the attention of the proper

admitted in delegation circles capital,

of projects for in- | ship succeed in reconciling the authorities, to delay readings of the Muni- that the final terms of the Wes-

diplomatic relations with Iraq, creasing the well-being and views of the two communities -Unlied Press. elpal Council Ordinance. This would not.

term

Powers

trade and cur

and in satisfying legitimato n prosperity of the territories aro

pirations of both?"-Routar `mcan, however, that the Bill has been

depend upon roney

the of the transport scrapped. It could mean, however, that

problem solution For this reason If the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the strike. gave, a favourable reception to the proposals to reconstitute, the legislature, that both reforms could come into effect simultaneously. Although the Municipal Council Bill has been prepared, there is much work to be done to make ready the machinery by which the Council would become effective: and there is no reason why that preparative work should not proceed. By the time It has been com pleted, it is possible, that final details of the reconstitution of the legislature would have been approved, and the Colony placed in the position where it could go aboad and have its first Municipal Courell alongside is reconstituted Legislative Council. It is a tempting objective.

on

settlement

BELGRADE FEARS

In Bolgrade, many Yugoslavs were fearful tonight of the in-

* | stitution of now anti-Tito theasures by the Cominform

as a preliminary

to putting into effect whatever countries following reports that

transport

DANGER OF

...

JAPANESE

including the right of peas to a meeting of the Cominform had COMPETITION WARNING

Berilir from the Western zoned, just ended in Poland.

is believed to be one of the No official Yugoslav reaction. hurdics still to be overcome--was available since the reported Reuter,

meeting has not been mentioned In the Yugoslav press.”

Speculation, however, was

NATIONALISTS BOMB S'HAI

rito in Belgrade that the Comin

form might tighten its economic blockade or break off diploma Uc relations with Yugoslavia.

Right wing Yugoslavs would Shanghai, June 16-Two welcome an Intensification of the Nationalist planes bombed campaign, believing it would ba Shanghal's western out to strengthen his relations with bound to drive: Marshal Tito'

Com-

Manchester, Juno 15-Me A. D. Barclay, Chairman of the British Collon and Rayon Merchants' Association, warned the Association's annual meeting today of Japanese competition, use declared, "A nsilon such as Japan cannot be Just wiped. and ignored.”, s

Has No Faith In

MacArthur

Canberra, June 15,--Labourite Senator Donald Grant charged in the Australian Sonate ad Wednesday that Japan never will bo

truly democraile whillo Gen. Douglas MacArthur 1: In- charge,

Discussing the importation of Japanese grey cloth for use" In the homo trade, ho said, "We, none of us, like the idea of Imparting foreign glolb, whether it be for ilig home trade or

"I admire what Gen. for processing hers and re-exported to our overseas markets. Arthur did to save Australia,

history and Be

Mr Barclay sald that buyers overseas were today fully aware of the relatively low American prices ruling as present, He thought that as time went on this American compellion, Iron ti Is likely to be intensified, go

Go through

Iskirts at 8.20 this morning. I the West. But many the hello said that the Impork permit' wystem was a" now unt Beurtain" In Japan. He Wadled

"I cannot help but feet that if foreign cloth has, to be in- Mr Grant aid, "but if you want: ported. It is better that it should be used for the home, trade, to make a bolch of a peace, put and thus free Lancashire cloth for export

a general: charge Go thro history

Mr Grant

-Curtali Two big explosions were muntats are depressed

compared with the "MacA heard in the city. No defear that the break might now serious obstacle to the export, trade and irrested that in that Japan now is being treated talls were available imme might have to depend on ocondoala consider this, and should endeavour to open up market

be final, and that: Yugoslavia framing agreemania with countries abroad the Government, mɔra as an ally than as a con diately United Press,mic aid from the west Reuter for "Britishŭexporters-Beuter.

quered enemy, — Associated