CHINESE PEACE EFFORTS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 5

CHINESE PEACE EFFORTS

Dr. Sun Fo Going To Nanking TALKS EXPECTED SOON (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NANKING, February 27. The Chinese Nationalist Prime Minister (Dr. Sun Fo) will come to Nanking from Canton to-morrow to discuss peace negotiations with the President (General Li Tsung-jen) and other Government leaders. Mr Shao Li-tse, the Government peace delegate, who accompanied the Shanghai non-partisan delegation to Peiping, said he had two long interviews with the Communist leader, Mr Mao Tse-tung. An authoritative source said that formal peace negotiations could be expected to begin in Peiping about the middle of March. The Communists would shortly appoint their peace delegates. Local newspaper reports said that the Communists had agreed not to attack the Yangtse line during the negotiations. They are also reported to have given concessions in theirdemand for the punishment of “war criminals.” The non-partisan peace delegation said that although many difficulties remained they were still hopeful of achieving peace. They added that the Communists had agreed in principle to the resumption of postal services and the restoration of shipping between Communist North China and the Nationalist South. The North Shensi radio announced that all foreign correspondents, news agencies, and foreign newspapers in Peiping, and the United States Information Service, had been notified to discontinue their activities there. Foreigners were at the same time prohibited from publishing newspapers in Peiping. The prohibition applied to all activities, including interviewing officials and sending dispatches. The radio announcement said that the order had been given by Mr Yen Chien-ying, the Mayor of Peiping, “because of the present war-time situation.”