BRITISH TRADE WITH CHINA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27434, 21 August 1954, Page 7

BRITISH TRADE WITH CHINA

“Strategic Cargoes Not Carried” „ / LONDON, August W. The British Ministry of Transport ' said today that no British ships have carried cargoes of strategic materials to China since the licensing of voy* - ages to China was introduced in March, The denial, which the British Government has made several times previously, was provoked by reports of a statement made in Peking by Mr Lu Shu Chang, director of the De-1 partment of the Chined Foreign Min- ■ istry responsible for trade with the West. British journalists in Peking today quoted Mr Lu as saying that British vessels had carried strategic goods from Europe to China, including stedl, metals, machinery' and heavy industrial equipment. The Ministry said that all British ships of more than 500 tons gross are prohibited from sailing to China or North Korea from ports anywhere in the world unless they nave been > licensed by the Ministry of Transport. Licences are only granted if cargoes are not On the strategic embargo list agreed upon by Western Nations, the Ministry said. i “While British ships are free to engage and do engage in legitimate trade I with China, the cargoes they have car- ■ tied to China have not—since the , licensing in March, 1953—included pro--1 hibited strategic materials.” >

Alleged Holding Of 15 Airmen (Rec. 11.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 20. The United States formally yesterday charged that the Chinese Communists were holding 15 United States Air Force fliers as “political prisoners** and hostages in an effort to help to force Communist China’s admission to the United Nations. The Defence Department, which issued the charge, accused the Communists of violating both the Korean armistice agreement and International Law in holding the fliers as pawns in the East-West struggle. It said Communist China admitted at the recent Geneva conference that it was holding the men.