RED DEMAND REJECTED

Chronicle (Levin), 1 February 1949, Page 5

RED DEMAND REJECTED

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter,

Intprisonment Of Chiang As War Criminal &

QonyrlQlrit)

Received Tuesday, 10.25 a.m. NANKING, Jan. 31. The Nationalist Government deeided today that it would not exeoute any of the proposed Communist peace terms until after it had oegun, peace negotiations with the Communist Party. This decision means that the Nationalist Government has rej'ected the Communist broadcast demand for the imprisonment of Ge.neralissinro Ohiang Kai-shek and other prominent Right-wing Nationalists on the Communists' war qriminals list. The decision followed a visit by air today 'to Shanghai of Acting President Li Tsung Jen with his advisers and Mr. Shao Li Tze, leadingr member of the Nationalist peace negotiajiing delegation. In Shanghai, Acting President Li Tsung Jen had a talk with the Premier, Dr. Sun Fo, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Wu Techen, and other Kuominta,ng elder statesmen. The meeting decided that 'four prominent Chinese should leave for Peiping to contact the Communists on the peace terms. There are no reports of military activity along the 100-mile Yangtse River front, east of Nanking, today, but local Communist bands are said to be active west of Wuhu, 40 miles southwest- of Nanking. Civil servants and their dependents are evacuating Wuhu, the well-known crossing piace on the Yangtse. Minerals For Russia? Important oil and mineral resources in Sinkiang Province are expected to be secured by Russia following the Nationalist evacuation of Nanking. The minerals may include uranium and some metals used in steel production, such as wolfram. This was revealed today following the circulation by the Nationalist Central News Agency of a report from Hankow that the inner Cabinet Minister, Mr Chiang Chuhchung, is fiying liome to Sinkiang prepared to conclude a local comrnereial agreement with Russia. He is believed to be returning to Sin- ! kiang disappointed with Cabinet's decision to move to Canton. It is thought likely that Mr. Chang Chuh-chung will make his own arrangements for Sinkiang with the Communists and Russia should ihe final Nationalist peace attempts fail.