PORT OF DAIREN

Chronicle (Levin), 27 December 1946, Page 5

PORT OF DAIREN

RtJSSlA TNTENDS TO IvEEP CONTROL Roeoived Thursdav, 7 p.m. XKW YOllK, Dec. 24. Russia intetids to retaln full control over Dairen and will kcep militarv forces there until after a peace treatv is signed with Japan, says the Combined World Press correspondent at Dairen. This will be done und'er a technical definition elausc in the Sino-Kussian pact coneerning Dairen, whieh says: "In peacetime Dairen is not ineluded in the sphere of ellicacy or naval ltase regulations determined by the agree-nie-nt on Port Arthur of August 14, 1945, and shall be subject to liiilitary supervision or control in this zone only in the case of war against .Japan." Thc phrase "in peacetime" is the eateh. ('hina is at war with .Tapan and will remain so until a peace troaty is signed. Dairen is the administrative centre of the territory of Kwantung, Soutli Mancliuria, west of Korea, the territory being formerlv leased to .Japan. It was niade a free port nnder the Sino-Kussian treatv of last year, but the Kussian and Chinese (loverninents had not completed arrangeineiits for the Chinese to assume control, and pending the conclusion of tliose arraugements, Dairen has reniained nnder Soviet military control. The correspondent, drawing a picture of eonditions nnder Soviet l'tile, whieh he says lie ohtaiued from neutral and Chinese sources, deelares that Dairen is a cold, distressed, dismal city. Lit'e is almost as closely regulated there as lieliind the iron curtain. The only currency is Soviet military script. Industry is paralysed. llunger and uiiemploynient are widi'spread. Prices are wildly intiated. Kussian and Chinese eivilians eke out an existenec of privation and fear. Xone (lare he intimate witli Aniericans, wlio are nnder almost consiaut surveillance. Summary arrest and punishment are the raio ratlier than the exception. There is no freedom of speech or of the Press. Posters ndvise liungry and unemployed Chinese residcnts that peace and prosperity would he possilile if Anierii-a would leave Cliiim. Xevertheless, the Soviet at the same timo is liiaking full use of American ImmlLease eipiipment. The only nbservablo transport the Ked army has in Dairen was rnade in America. The •correspondent adds that there are indications that the fear whieh rules the daily lives of the Chinese peojilo also haunts the lives of their Soviet mastors. Kverv act of the local Soviet oflicials is reviewed hy Moscow, aml the Kussian militarv and diphmuCic roprosentatives soemingly live in terror of taking any step not first approved hy the Krernlin. Ohservers helieve that it was this fear of making a decision whieh prompted the Kussian commaiider, Ma.jor tieneral V. V. Korzlianofi', to issue liis ultimatum to the Pnited States navv couricr sliiji to "leave port within 20 ininutes or we will not he resjionsihle for the eonsequences. " The Stnte Department Press officer at Wasliington said the Kussian military autliorities at Dairen actod within their legal rights in ordering the American vossel to leave port on Deceinher 21 after its authorised 4S liours' stity had expired. The ship was on it rouline courier mission, carrying diplomatic mail and supplies to the Fnited States Consulate at Dairen.