OUTLAWED PARTY IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 7

OUTLAWED PARTY IN CHINA

Anta-Government Acts JDenied “PEACEFUL, LEGAL OPPOSITION’’ (Rec. 11 p.m.) NANKING. October 28. An appeal for a world investigation of the Chinese Governments action in outlawing the Liberal Democratic league (the Chinese Opposition Party/ was made to-day by Dr. Lo Lung-chi, a leading member of the league. He said the league had taken no action to overthrow the Government. The league’s basic policy had been to act as a peaceful legal Opposition. “We have no arms, not even a pistol,” said Dr. Lo. “I strongly protest against the Government classifying us with the Communists.” Interceding to-day on behalf of the league, the American Ambassador to China (Mr J. Leighton Stewart) issued a statement urging the Chinese Government to hold an immediate public trial under the laws of the Republic for any league member charged with abetting the Communist rebellion. The Associated Press correspondent in Shanghai says: “The outlawing of the league leaves Marshal Chiang Kaishek and his Kuomintang Party with virtually no open opposition inside China’s nationalist-controlled area and it effectively stifles any real opposition the Kuomintang might have encountered at the first national elections, scheduled to take place from November 21 to 23. “The league is the nation’s third largest party, the Communists being the second. The league began as a coalition of smaller parties. Including the Young China Party, which recently broke away to join the Kuomintang* sponsored quasi -coalition now operating in Nanking. '•The league attracted to it the intellectual elite of the nation, including many important writers, professors, artists, and scholars, and also Erominent industrialists. The league as repeatedly demanded an end to the civil war and Government law reforms, and has accused the Government of denying civil rights to its members.” “The probability of Hong Kong becoming the headquarters of the banned league was expressed by Marshal Li Chi-sum, who is regarded as a potential leader ot the Leftist anti-Kuomin-tang bloc” reports the A.A.P.-Reuter correspondent in Hong Kong “This British colony is already the league's headquarters in Southern China. It’s overseas branches in many parts of the JnciudJng England and the United States, have nearly 20,000 members. “Marshal Li Chi-sum expressed the opinion that the present National Government would not last more than • year because ot political, military, ana economic reasons.”