Evening star., 1949-12-18
Acheson Warns
U. 5. Vessels 10
Avoid Shanghai
Move Seen Aimed to
Curb Operations of
Isbrondtsen Line
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
The State Department cautioned
all American ships yesterday to
avoid the port of Shanghai as a
danger zone.
The port is held by the Chinese
Communists. 1t is blockaded by
Chinese Nationalist naval units
gunboats and destroyer escorts for
the most part. The United States
never has formally recognized the
blockade, proclaimed by the Ma
tionalists last summer.
Two American flag vessels, OPP
Grated by the Isbrandtsen Steam
ship Co. of New York, have been
shelled by Nationalist naval units
in recent weeks. The latest Incl
dent, November %, involved the
lines Sir John Franklin, which
was damaged when it came under
fire from the Nationalists as it
steamed along the lower estuary
of the YangtZe River.
The latest American move was
seen as an effort to discourage
the Isbrandtsen line from sending
its vessels into the zone of dam
ger. Secretary of State Acheson
has tried-but apparently failed
to obtain assurances from the Ma
tionalist government that there
would be no further attacks on
American ships.
The Isbrandtsen Co. is the only
American line which has been
sending its ships into the blockade
zone
Firm Attacks Action.
In New York the company said
the State Department action was
"usurping Congress exclusive
power" to regulate commerce and
meant that the Navy and Secre-
tary of State are arbitrarily re-
fusing to protect American life
and property on the high seas
against unlawful attack"
The company said that, as the
owner of ships on round-the-
world service calling at Chinese
ports, it takes the position that
the 'risk of lawless action"
against American ships on the
high seas cannot be arbitrarily
showed over onto the innocent
ships and victims"
'The Secretary of State is try
ing desperately to find an excuse
for his and the Secretary of the
Navy's own unlawful action in
failing to take steps within their
power to protect American ships
and crews against lawlessness,"
the line stated.
The company statement aided:
'That one or two lawless and
shandit Chinese warships are being
nitted to roam freely on the
high seas between China and ia
pan and unlawfully attack un-
armed American merchant ships
while they are lawfully pursuing
American foreign commerce as
defined by Congress does not
make that area dangerous.
Text of Statement.
Here is the statement issued by
the State Department.:
"The Department of State has
issued the following announce
ment which has been transmitted
to all shipping companies. ship
operators and ship masters via
the photographic Office and the
Maritime Commission:
Ion November %, 1949, the Sir
John Franklin, an American flag
ship, while proceeding to the port
of Shanghai, was subjected to a
barrage of fire from two Chinese
naval vessels in the lower estuary
of the Yangtze, damaging the YES
sci and seriously endangering life
aboard it.
although the vessel was per-
mitted to leave Shanghai unmo-
Tested, the Chinese Nationalist
government stated that the, fact
that the vessel was so permitted
to leave should not be regarded
as precedent.
"'The Department of State must
point out that the port of Shang-
hal and its approaches constitute
a zone of danger and the condi-
tions in it are such as to render
sthis area extremely hazardous to
shipping.
"'In view of this situation it is
obvious that American lives and
property should not be exposed to
such risks and all masters of
= American f1agships are warned
accordingly.
On November 80 Mr.. Acheson
noted that only one American
shipping company has continued
to send it's vessels into Shanghai.
He praised other lines for not
doing so.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ma
tionalist cabinet at Taipeh, For
mosa, announced that Wednesday
the ,Nationalists will begin laying
mines to bar shipping from Com
munist-held Chinese ports. The
cabinet said, the step was neces-