AID RAIDS ON MANCHURIA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 9

AID RAIDS ON MANCHURIA

Chinese Charge Against U.S. (Rec. 19 p.m.) HONG KONG, May 12. China’s Foreign -Minister (Mr Chou En-lai) announced today that he was authorised to lodge a serious protest with the United States Government over American bombing of Lakushao and Antung, in Manchuria, on Sunday and yesterday. v Mr Chou’s statement, released by the New China News Agency, said: “On May 10 and 11, a total of 25 planes of the United States Air Force of aggression in Korea successively intruded three times into north-east China’s territorial air over Lakushao and Antung, dropping leaflets and carrying out bombing and strafing. More than 50 bombs were dropped by the American aircraft and more than 250 Chinese residents were killed or wounded.

“This is more serious provocation by the United States Government, following its violation on many previous occasions of China’s territorial air, and its crime of killing and wounding Chinese people. The people of the whole of China are most indignant at this crime of aggression by the United States Government. Therefore, I am authorised to lodge a serious protest with the United States Government. “People throughout the world have been fervently longing for an armistice in Korea. However, when the Korean armistice negotiations are in progress, the United States Government has dispatched its Air Force invading Korea to violate China's territorial air and to kill Chinese people. “This provocative action of the United States Government is obviously an attempt to influence the Korean armistice negotiations and to challenge the ardent desire of people all over the world for an armistice in Korea. But it is certain that this attempt of the United States Government is doomed to failure.

‘“Hie firm and strong will of the Chinese and Korean people to struggle for peace is absolutley unshakeable." In Washington, the United States Air Force said it had “no reports” of any such bombing. A State Department spokesman said he knew nothing about such an attack.

A Far East Air Force spokesman said in Tokyo that Mr Chou’s allegation that Allied planes bombed Manchuria was “more pure fantasy.”