CHINESE DENY RECEIPT OF RED ULTIMATUM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22917, 8 April 1949, Page 5

CHINESE DENY RECEIPT OF RED ULTIMATUM

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter —Copyright.) (1.1.30 a.m.) NANKING, April 7. The Chinese Nationalist official spokesman denied today reports that the Communists had delivered an ultimatum virtually demanding the surrender of the Kuomintang. The spokesman described as groundless the report that the Communists are demanding that a joint commission be set up by Saturday to supervise the transfer of the Nationalist armies to Ccmmunist cornmand. The correspondent says there are no signs in Nanking of fear of a new Communist attack across the Yangtse, although the Communist radio is nightly threatening it. Observers said that the Communists were winning hands down in the propaganda war of nerves. Communist tactics in the peace talks in Peking have completely sealed the lips of responsible Kuomintang officials. Government spokesmen have had no information about the peace talks, which have been going on for,a week. The military spokesman stated that the Communists are continuing to mass troops on the north bank of the Yangtse, but no serious fighting has taken place since April 4. when Nanking sources said that a cease-fire had been agreed to.