CONFUSION IN CHINA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

CONFUSION IN CHINA

MANCHUKUO SURRENDER. CHUNGKING’S OPTIMISM. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (11.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 23. Tlie surrender situation was further complicated today with the announcement that Generals Chang Chi-chung and Hsiung Shi-jhui, both high officials in Marshal Chiang’s councils, have been appointed to accept the Japanese surrender in Manchukuo.

No explanation is given as to how this is to bo effected while the Japanese armies in Manchukuo are surrendering piecemeal to the Russians. Chinese troops will occupy Hong Kong under the surrender terms, reports the Associated Press correspondent in Chungking. The British authorities in Chungking decline to comment. A Chinese Army spokesman said Hong Kong was in the China theatre and the High Command naturally assumed the responsibility to accept the Japanese surrender there. A Foreign Office spokesman stated that Marshal Cliiang Kai-shek was considering the whole issup and was expected to announce his decision in a few days.. In London Mr Attlee has announced

that arrangements have been made for the Japanese surrender to be accepted by a British officer. General Wedemeyer has ordered the United States forces in China not to fraternise with the Japanese. All contacts must be official, courteous, impersonal anti firm. The Communist newspaper New China Daily News declared that the Communist forces in North and Central China “have gathered strength for an all-out offensive” and were marching on the key cities. It added that Tsingtao was surrounded and street, fighting was going on. Tientsin arm Wuiiu have been entered and other Communists are approaching Wanping and j\ anyuan _ . . Authoritative circles state that joint political action by the United States,

Britain and Russia- to halt the incipient civil war in China and joint British, Russian, Chinese and American occupation of Korea are impending, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. It is also learned that agreement by the Chinese Premier (Dr Soong; with the Soviet Government provides that Manchukuo and Inner Mongolia will eventually come under Chinese sovereignty, but the Russians will acquire 50 per cent, of the control of the Chinese Eastern and South Manchukuo railways. Port Arthur becomes a Russian naval and military base and half the docks and commercial facilities of Dairen probably will be reserved for Russian use.