SOVIET CHARGED WITH DOWNFALL OF CHINA

Grey River Argus, 19 July 1949, Page 5

SOVIET CHARGED WITH DOWNFALL OF CHINA

U.SA White Paper Recalls Aid Given The Communists (Rec. 11.45) WASHINGTON, July 17 The State Department in a forthcoming White Paper on China, will place a heavy responsibility on the Soviet Union for China’s current plight. This was learned to-day. The . document will claim that Russia, both directly and indirectly, has violated the 1945 Chinese-Soviet Treaty, under which Russia had promised not to interfere in China’s internal affairs. An example of' Russia’s direct interference, ’according to reliable sources is Moscow’s refusal to allow the Chinese, in accordance with this ■ treaty, to take any part in the control of the Manchurian ports of Rairen and Port Arthur. Examples of indirect Soviet aid to Communists are:— (1) Moscow’s alleged connivance in allowing the arms and equipment of the once powerful Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria, to be left for the Chinese Reds. (2) Russia’s allowing Manchurianmanufactured arms to be turned over to the Communists. (3) Soviet propaganda supporting the Communists against the Nationalists in spite of the Russian pledge to recognise the Nationalist Government as legal. These alleged moves, it is said, will be presented as evidence that this aid enabled the Chinese Communists to consolidate Manchuria, and to use. it as the springboard for the successful attacks that have moved the Red armies into South China. NATIONALISTS ALSO BLAMED The document will also touch on these points:— (1) The former U.S. Secretary of State, General Marshall, cautioned Marshal Chiang Kai Shek against trying to defeat the Cqmmunists by force of arms, but this advice was ignored. (2) The Nationalists, as well as the Communists, resorted to subterfuge obstruction to hamper peace negotiations in 1946. (3) Nationalist China, rather than the shortage of American, aid, is largely responsible for the present state of affairs. The opposing armies once had approximately the same strength, but, due to poor leadership and morale, the Nationalists lost more than one million men and about ninety per cent of American-supplied equipment.