RUSSIAN TERMS FOR CHINA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 268, 25 August 1949, Page 5

RUSSIAN TERMS FOR CHINA

Nationalist Spokesman’s Disclosure REPLY TO U.S. WHITE PAPER (N ZP.A.—Copyright,! WASHINGTON, August 23. The Soviet Government had askecl the Chinese Government in January, 1949, for a guarantee that China would remain neutral if Russia became involved in a war, a Chinese Nationalist Government spokesman said to-day. He was Dr. Kan Cliieh-liou, personal representative of the Act-' ing-President of China (General Li Tsung-jen).

Dr. Kan said that the Soviet Union, at the same time, had demanded a reduction of American influence in China. Dr. Kan issued his statement “to correct misunderstanding regarding General Li’s foreign policy as related in the United States State Department’s White Paper.” A section of the White Paper stated that General Lo had agreed in principle to the following requests by the Soviet Embassy in Nanking(l) Strict Chinese neutrality in any future international conflicts; (2) the elimination of American influence to as great an extent, as possible in China; and (3) the establishment of a basis of real cooperation between China and Russia.

Dr. Kdn-denied that any such agreement had ever been reached with the Soviet. He described the efforts of the Chinese Nationalist Government to persuade the Soviet Union to prevail on the Chinese Communists to agree to a settlement and halt their drive into South China. He said: “It became altogether clear that what the Soviet Union had really wanted in the last three years was a guarantee that China would remain neutral in case Russia became involved in any war. It was equally clear that, after their falure in obtaining a neutrality agreement from the Chinese-Government, the Russians gave a ‘go ahead’ signal to the Chinese Communists, with the hope that a Communist-controlled China would give them this guarantee.’

CAMPAIGN FOR CANTON'

RENEWED COMMUNIST OFFENSIVE HONG KONG, Aug. 24. General Liu Po-cheng’s Chinese Communist troops are resuming their drive into Kwangtung Province from Southern Kiangsi. Two columns are moving south from Hsinfeng, 180 miles north-east of Canton. One column has ocupiecd Anyuan, in Southern Kiangsi, about 160 miles north-east of Canton, while the other has occupied Lungnan, 140 miles north of Canton. The second column is now'closing in on Tingnan, which has been the seat of the Kiangsi Provincial Government since the fall of Kanchow.

Concurrently with General Liu’s southern drive, Communist irregulars are intensifying their activities in Northern Kwangtung. Lufeng, 140 miles north-east; of Canton, has been captured by irregulars; In Fukien Province, General Chen Yi’s Communist troops have captured Yungchun and Manan, 40 and 60 miles respectively north of Amoy. A state of emergency has been declared in Amoy, and the Nationalists have ordered the closure to shipping of all ports in Fukien.