INEFFICIENCY AND GRAFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25697, 20 November 1944, Page 5

INEFFICIENCY AND GRAFT

BRITISH CONSUL’S INDICTMENT WASHINGTON, (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) Nov. 18.

“ Inefficiency and graft are depriving Britain and America of most of the help they might otherwise be getting from China," declared the new British Consul at Seattle, Mr Gerald Stockley, who has arrived after 19 years’ service in China. He expressed the opinion that the differences between General Stilwell anfl General Chiang Kai-shek were based on General Stilwell’s continual and vigorous protests against graft in high places. “ The friends of China have drawn picturas which are coloured by wishful thinking. They have not told you nasty

stories about generals selling ammunition and supplies to the Japanese or of Japanese agents being allowed to honeycomb the country. I clearly saw the lights o[ Chinese, signalling enemy planes during air raids. Japanese and Chinese trade freely across the front lines.”

It would be unthinkable to suggest that the President of the United States should tell Americans anything but the truth about General Stilwell's recall," declared Dr Kiang Yisent. the Chinese Consul at Seattle, in an interview. replying to the assertion of the British consul, Mr Stockley. He added that the first duty of an accredited diplomatic representative was certainly not to spread “ nasty stories." “ I am interested to know what Chinese general is selling munitions to the Japanese, and where and when. Mr Stockley certainly ought to know we have not enough of anything with which to fight the enemy, let alone to trade with them."