“PIRACY” OFF FORMOSA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27533, 15 December 1954, Page 13

“PIRACY” OFF FORMOSA

U.N. Debate On Soviet Charge NEW YORK, December 13. The Soviet delegate (Mr Jacob Malik) said in the United Nations Political Committee today that Nationalist China had committed piracy against 67 foreign merchant vessels along the China coast, with the aid of the United States. Mr Malik opened a debate on the Soviet charges and called for formal condemnation of the attacks. Mr T. F. Tsiang, of Nationalist China, described the charges as “more propaganda in the cold war,” and said that his Government would continue to defend itself against attempts by international communism to crush Fprmosa and subvert the world. He said that the Soviet bloc ships seized by the Nationalist Chinese Navy carried bombs intended to be “rained down on Formosa.” Mr Malik told the committee: “Respons.bility for these piratical acts by the Kuomintang clique belongs to those who control the authorities. Since the United States controls the group on the island, the responsibility belongs to the armed forces of the (United States.” He called on the United States Government “to prevent acts of injustice.” Mr Malik said attacks had been carried out against 67 mechant vessels of a “dozen nations.” He quoted the British Central Bureau of Information as having reported that 141 attacks had been made on British ships since September, 1949. He said the crews of these ships had been subjected to “crude force, including wounding and murder.” The cargoes were looted, he added.

“Part of Cold War” Mr I. T. M. Pink, of Britain, said Mr Malik’s speech showed clearly that the Soviet complaint had been put forward “as part of the cold war campaign against the United States.” He said Mr Malik had quoted an official statement about the number of British ships>attacked. Sixty-nine was the figure mentioned by Mr Malik, but there was a curious omission. “He entirely forgot to mention that the Chinese People’s Government had been responsible for a considerable number of these said Mr Pink. “I am not denying that the Chinese authorities in Formosa were responsible for a great many of these cases of interference with British ships. In many other cases, when British ships were fired upon or chased, it was not possible to identify who was to blame. In a considerable number of other cases, however —27 is the figure —it was the forces of the Chinese People’s Government who were responsible. “While my Government does not admit the right of the Chinese Nationalists to stop or search British ships, there can be no question of fastening the blame for this interference with freedom of navigation on one offender and white-washing the actions of the other,” Mr Pink said. “My Government is in a good position to know the facts, as British vessels have been involved so often,” he said. “I am therefore in a position to assure the committee —and in particular the Soviet delegate—that the forces of the United States have committed no act of piracy against vessels of the United Kingdom: The fact is that the United States Navy and the United States Air Force have not been taking part in piratical attacks on shipping in the China Seas.”