Evening star., 1946-04-25
China Demands
That Russians
Leave Daiiren
Hurbin Is Conceded
To Communists as
Soviet Withdruws
BY the Associated Press

A Chinese government spokes-
man conceded the rich North
Manchurian city of Harbin to
the Communists today, but in
sisted that the Russians get out
of the southern port of Dairen.
which so far is not on the Red
Army's schedule of Withdrawals.
The spokesman, Minister of In
formation K. C. WI, declared that
Chinese Communists were already
in Harbin," from which the Russians
are scheduled to withdraw by the
end of the day.
WI said he had no information on
the situation at Dairen but Dairen
is part of China and We expect
the Russians to withdraw from all
Manchuria before the end of the
month, as they agreed"
Dairen became a free port under
the Chinese-Russian treaty of last
August.
Airport Taken by Communists.
Several sources reported that
Chinese government planes, trying
to land at Harbin to evacuate tarry-
ing government officials, found the
airport already taken over by Com
munists. The planes returned to
Mukden, one of the few government
controlled Manchurian cities, with
out the officials. Earlier in the week
81 administrators sent into Hardin
weeks ago had flown to Mukden.
Sage Jorgensen, the Danish
Consul, who flew out of Hardin only
yesterday, told Associated Press
Photographer Julian Wilson in
Mukden that Harbin residents would
welcome the arrival of the Com
munists. He said the citizens feared
an outbreak of robbery and looting
if the Communists didn't take over
because the government garrison
there was too small to assume
control
Communist leaders said several
days ago they would take Harbin
as soon as the Russians withdrew.
Harbin Appears in Confusion.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Peiping said that four planes sent to
Harbin yesterday to evacuate Off
cials-the number was not reported
found Communists had taken over
the airfield. The pilots said the city
appeared, from the air, to De in
confusion. There were no details.
1t. Gen. Chao CHA -hsiang. chief
of StoH of tho oouorrroonf;c north
eastern command. said "the general
issimo (Chiang Kal-sheR is very
concerned about the situation"
Gen. Chao flew to Peiping from
Chungking yesterday and expected
to proceed to Mukden.
Mr.. Jorgensen further told Nj
Wilson that Chinese officials in
Harbin had hoped the Russians
would delay their withdrawal until
government troops could arrive But
the Soviets, mindful of earlier crit
icism abroad when they delayed
their Manchurian evacuation, me-
thodically went ahead with their
withdrawal preparations.
The Dane said most high Chinese
officials, including the police chief
had left the city Harbin has only
a small, locally-recruited garrison
which he said was not expected to
make more than token fight, if
that, against the Communists.
The nearest government army is
about 300 miles to the south. The
only disciplined force in the Harbin
arefis an estimated 10000 Commu-
nists.
Excesses "Discouraged.'
Mr.. Jorgensen said Harbin was
quiet under Russian administration
and that such excesses as occurred
were discouraged" He reported
more than 100 Russian soldiers were
convicted of crimes against civilians
and SLOT in the Soviets' eight month
occupation.
He said there are about 10000
Russians in Harbin. Most of them
ares White Russians who settled
thee after fleeing from the Red
revolution nearly 80 years ago.
Some were removed to Russia
during the Soviet occupation. Of
these, Marshal Malinovsky told
Harbin Russians in a farewell ad-
dress last week end:
Some present here may miss
90 nT A 1YE1IyITrT