VIEWS ON CHINA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 13

VIEWS ON CHINA

Montgomery Attacked

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 22.

The former commander of United States forces in the China theatre, General Albert Wedemeyer, today accused FieldMarshal Viscount Montgomery of following the Chinese Communist propaganda line in his recent comments on China.

General Wedemeyer, now retired, who sunned and reported on China and Korea for President Truman in 1947. took issue with writings by Lord Montgomery, who recently visited China. “To be subjected to Communist Chinese propaganda emanating from Peking, Moscow, and other Communist centres is a daily experience throughout the free world, but to have it dished up and articulated by a distinguished military leader of the West is indeed difficult to swallow,” General Wedemeyer said io a statement.

General Wedemeyer said Lord Montgomery “was exposed to the arch-conspirators, Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai—both sly and shameless, both particularly adept at distorting facts.” during his visit

He said Lord Montgomery had expressed admiration for both leaders and had written: "1 saw in Communist China everywhere a happy, laughing people—cheerful, friendly, and seemingly contended with their lot.”

General Wedemeyer commented: ’’Obviously he Is unaware of ample evidence concerning the massive famines in China of recent date and the official police action required to crush ruthlessly the dissident elements rioting for food. Nor has he heard the testimony of Chinese refugees in Hong Kong and Macao, where over 300 are slipping across the borders daily to leave the land that Lord Montgomery describes so glowingly.”