U.S. Admits Plane, By Mistake, May Have Strafed Chinese Airfield

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1950, Page 5

U.S. Admits Plane, By Mistake, May Have Strafed Chinese Airfield

NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Recd 6 pm).— The United States told the Security Council today that an American fighter plane might have strafed a Manchurian airstrip by mistake last Wednesday. The United States delegate, Mr. W’arren Austin, in a surprise announcement, said: “Reports have been received .that indicate that one plane of the 67th. Fighter-Bomber Squadron, by mistake, may have violated Chinese territory in Manchuria and strafed an airstrip on Wednesday approximately five miles from the Korean border.”

Yesterday it was reported from China that the Communist Foreign Minister, Mr. Chouen Lai, had sent another telegram to Mr. Malik, Soviet President of the Security Council reporting violation of the territory of Communist China by American planes, and demanding that the council “take effective measures immediately to check American aggressive forces in Korea from extending their aggression, and to effect immediate withdrawal of the United States Forces invading Korea.” Mr. Austin proposed that the United Nations should set up a commission to investigate at once, reported attack and assess any damages. He said the United States would be willing to pay

whatever damages the Commission decided were fair.

Mr. Austin said the reported attack still had not been fully confirmed. The United States several times had warned the Air Forces in Korea to exert every care to avoid crossing China’s borders. The Government ordered an inquiry as soon as the first complaint was received from Mr. Chouen Lai. Mr. Austin said he had asked the United Nations Secretary-General, Mi Trygve Lie, to transmit a copy of his statement to Chou. This also contained an assurance that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against any American flier violating Chinese territory.

Mr. Austin asked that the item be placed on the Council’s calender undei the title “Complaint of Bombing of Chinese Territory by United Nations Aircraft.” He stressed the words “United Nations.’’

The council eventually decided to put on the agenda “a complaint of aerial bombing of the territory of China.” Only Cuba, Nationalist China and Egypt voted in opposition. Earlier Mr. Malik declared: “The unprovoked aggression of American aerial attacks on Manchuria could develop into a general war.”