BRAWL AT CHINESE LEGATION IN LONDON

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 11

BRAWL AT CHINESE LEGATION IN LONDON

British Officials In Peking Confined

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, August 30.

London police maintained a heavy, guard on the Chinese, mission today after violent clashes in which Chinese diplomats and police were injured. China retaliated by confining British officials and their families to their residences in Peking.

In a protest it charged that the British Government had instigated police and “ruffians” to beat up Chinese diplomats yesterday. Late last night police dispersed a crowd of about 1000 people gathered near the Chinese Legation in Portland Place.

One report said a man broke through police cordons and hurled a brick at the Legation’s shuttered windows.

Earlier the Foreign Office had accused the Chinese of deliberately provoking violence to try to justify last week’s Chinese attack on the British mission in Peking.

Three men are to appear in court today on charges connected with the incidents outside the office, where police used truncheons against diplomats who attacked with baseball bats, bottles and an axe.

After a mid-afternoon fight outside the Legation eight Chinese were taken to hospital. Three were carried out of the mission on stretchers, one of them clutching a redbound book on the thoughts of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. A policeman, knocked unconscious with a club, was kept in hospital with a suspected fractured skull. Peking Radio reported that Mr Lo Kuei-po, Vice-Foreign Minister made today’s protest to Mr Donald Hopson, Britain’s Charge d’Affaires in the Chinese capital, after receiving reports of violence around the Chinese Legation in London yesterday. Chinese Allegation

In the “most urgent, most serious and strongest protest,” he charged that the British Government had instigated police and “ruffians” to beat up Chinese diplomats. At the same time he announced the Chinese Government's decision to confine members of the British mission in Peking to their office building—gutted by fire during demonstrations eight days ago—and to their flats in the nearby compound used by diplomats of several countries.

If they want to go anywhere outside this small area in eastern Peking's diplomatic quarter, they must give 48 hours notice. Mr Lo also said none of the British staff would be permitted to leave China without specific permission of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. All exit-pennits already issued to Britons were cancelled. There are 24 British diplomats including four single girls, and 14 wives, 15 children and three nannies in Peking. After the August 22 attacks

ed with medical facilities, truly ensure the safety of the an “ press and commercial establishments in Britain, and the safety of all their members, and punish the culprits and compensate our losses.” Britain must lift restrictions on Chinese diplomats or bear the responsibility for all the consequences, The British Foreign Office in London declined to make any immediate comment on the new developments in Peking pending a full report expected from Mr Hopson.

on the British Charge d’Affaires office, Britain recommercial officials, to central London and said they would require exit visas before leaving the country. Demands On U.K. : “*“**“° Mr Lo, commenting on the London incidents yesterday, said: “The Chinese Government demands that the British Government immediately adopt effective measures to prevent the recurrence of atrocities, provide the wound-