CHINA WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 159, 18 April 1949, Page 3

CHINA WAR

Peace Talk Dilemma *\ REDS PROVE DIFFICULT , (N.Z.P.A..-Reuter— Copyright). (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) NANKING, April 17. Nationalist Leaders met tonight to consider a solution of the dilemma reached in the secret Peiping peace talks, as the result of Communist insistence on, bringing the Red ’ forces south of the Yangtse after the peace settlement.

Details of the Communist desire to supervise reorgjfnisation of the Nationalist armies were brought to? Nanking by the peace delegate Huang Shao Hsiung. According to Nanking sources, no serious obstacles to a successful conclusion of the peace agreement have been raised by the Communists, apart from their demand to come south of the Yangtse. The Nationalist leaders are still believed to be strongly opposed to Communist insistence on bringing forces south of the Yangtse, but they said they are still optimistic that a compromise may .be found. The Communist radio announced, that April 20 has been fixed as the deadline for the Nationalist acceptance of the Communist peace programme.

Underlining their three-day ultimatum; Communists on the north bank of the Yangtse today launched a newoffensive against the Nationalist positions in the Chinkiang sector. The Nationalist military newsagency said • that the Nationalists have evacuated two bridgeheads northeast of Chinkiang. Simultaneously with the new offensive, the Red artillery began a bombardment of the south bank of the Yangtse.