CIVIL STRIFE IN MANCHURIA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24903, 17 June 1946, Page 4

CIVIL STRIFE IN MANCHURIA

Further Easing In Tension SIGNING OF NEW PACT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) NANKING, June 15. A lessening of the strife in Manchuria and a further relaxation of the tension in Tsingtao were reported as Communists announced the signing of a new pact described a step towards “a permanent Manchurian cease fire.” Communist headquarters said that the pact concerned the establishment of Chinese and American Truce Headquarters in Changchun and the assignment of field truce teams to various north-east areas. The Communist spokesman declared that there were still many obstacles final agreement in Manchuria, which was the only area with which the new pact would be concerned. Fighting elsewhere in China was another matter on which they were also working. The Associated Press correspondent at Peiping reports Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s Manchurian commander as saying that serious clashes in Peiping have ceased. General Tu told the Changchun press that the Communists have withdrawn from Lafachan, southeast of Harbin. A report from Tsingtao says that the Communist commander has given an assurance that the Communists will not attack the city, after receiving a warning that the United Stqtes Marines there would fight if fired oh. He denied that the Communists ever intended to attack Tsingtao. They were active ihstead against former Japanese puppet forces ' around the ports in south Hopei, to prevent more sufferings. An earlier message said that United States Marines were preparing defence positions on the outskirts of the key supply base of Tsingtao, as Communist troops showed up 12 miles to the north. Marine, Army, and Navy commanders discussed the course of action in z the event of an attack. Tanks patrolled the airfield and 12 fighters loaded with bombs flew in from Peiping. The cruiser Los Angeles and five destroyers are lying in the harbour. Mr Truman has informed Congress that the United States spent 300,000,000 dollars on flying four Chinese armies to China and Manchuria to disarm the Japanese after the surrender. This and other aid given since V~J day more than doubled the lease-lend assistance to China before the Japanese surrender, making a total to December 31, 1945, of -1,335,000,000 dollars. Mr Truman said that United States military aid was continuing to China. He reiterated that American support would not include intervention to influence the course of any Chinese internal strife, and he added that the United States from the time of the surrender of Germany to December 31, 1945, gave the Allies lend-lease supplies worth 1,242,000.000 dollars.