DEMONSTRATION BY CHINESE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 9

DEMONSTRATION BY CHINESE

Protest Against Suez Invasion

WELL-DISCIPLINED GROUPS

(From a Reuter Correspondent) PEKING. The recent demonstrations against the British and French action in the Middle East have shown the organisation and discipline of Chinese life today. Less than 24 hours after the news of the beginning of operations against Egyptian airfields, between 100,000 and 200,000 people marched in a “spontaneous” demonstration past the British compound here, where the Charge d’Affaires has his offices. From all over Peking, they came in groups of several hundred and it seemed as »f every school, college, factory and organisation in the city had sent a delegation. The planning must have been considerable to get these groups to the right time so that they passed the long grey walls of the British compound in a continuous stream from 11 a.m until 8.30 p.m. Mass demonstrations and meetings are part of the Communist technique of proving the mass line or will. That they can be organised in a short time is not surprising in a country where the individual, by virtue of party beliefs. counts for little and where nearly everyone belongs to some sort of group whether it be class, factory or street organisation. The “activists” in each group can all be briefed centrally or through the control organisation which stretch down through Chinese life. And they in turn can organise demonstrators, instruct them in what it is all about, and teach them slogans in a short time. Chinese officials and newspapers say that it is all “spontaneous” and represents the fury of individual Chinese against the action of the British and French Governments. But among the marchers were little schoolchildren who must have been very well versed in international affairs if they knew what it was all about, while one man, when asked what the demonstration was for, replied: “Something about Taiwan (Formosa) I think.”

Each group carried placards, banners and often very clever caricatures and cartoons which must have taken many hours to prepare. Slogans were written in Chinese, English, French and Arabic. They also brought with them letters, petitions and sometimes poems condemning the Anglo-French action. All these they presented to British diplomatic officials for forwarding to the British and French Governments. (France does not recognise Communist China and has no diplomatic representation in Peking.) Mild Slogans

The demonstrators lustily shouted slogans, some of which they read from scraps of paper, in Chinese and English. These, though unmistakably showing disapproval and resentment at the British and French attack, on Egypt, were not nearly as abusive and hate-impregnated as they would have been in some countries in similar circumstances.

It was the discipline of the crowds which was so remarkable. They marched. They shouted. They stuck up posters and painted slogans on the walls of the British compound. But they were orderly. There was no throwing of stones and no wilful damage to British property, or attacks on British citizens. Even the party of about 200 which at one point forced its way through the big red gates into the compound was disciplined and did no damage. They just stood in a group until a delegation was received by the Charge d’Affaires. Mr Con O’Neill.

They were all well controlled throughout by their leaders and when one climbed up on a ladder and tried to put a poster over the British coat of arms, he was hurriedly called down by one of the activists. The arms, though surrounded by posters and scrawled slogans remained untouched, as did the Union Jack flying above the gates. Chinese officials insisted that the demonstration was not antiBritish but only against the British Government. This certainly seemed borne out by facts for it had none of the viciousness of anti-foreigner riots earlier in the century.

British nationals could walk unharmed among the crowds. The throng outside the gate made way for those who wanted to enter or leave the British compound, and on at least one occasion helped one of the wives of a diplomatic officer who was accompanied by several children and pushing a pram by clearing a way for her. Similarly, with great good humour they made way for a newspaper correspondent who wanted to take photographs. During a huge mass meeting in Peking’s main square, a group of demonstrators laughed and clapped the same correspondent on the back when he pointed out that he was English and not Russian as they had supposed.