Evening star., 1950-01-15

on Peiping Seizure. Page Al
took over the Offices and some res
licences in fragrant violation" of
long g-standing treaty rights, the
State Department announced.
No violence was reported and
the SO Americans attached to the
consulate were said to be safe and
well, although details on exactly
what happened following the
seizure were lacking.
Assistant Secretary of State w.
Walton Butterworth said the "un-
precedented" Communist action
made completely intolerable" the
position of all American repre-
sentatives in Red China.
1876 Americans Affected.
Instructions went out to them
promptly to pack up and get ready
to close their Offices and leave as
soon as transportation can be ar
ranged. In all, 1856 Americans are
affected-in consular establish
ments at Shanghai, Tientsen,
Nanking and Tsingtao as we'll as
at Peiping.
Great Britain, which recently
recognized the Chinese Commu-
mist regime, has agreed to take
over protection of United States
property and other interests on
departure of the American Off
cials. which is expected to take
some weeks to arrange.
The State Department turned
aside as superfluous questions
about what effect the Peiping ac-
tion might have on consideration
here of recognition of the Com
munist government. Secretary of
State Acheson has said repeatedly
it was premature even to consider
American recognition. The new
affront by the Communists OBJ
viously drives the question much
further into the future.
Seized Under Jan. Order.
The Peiping Consulate General
property, converted years ago
from a military barracks, was
seized by the Communists under
January proclamation for
requisition Of former foreign mill
tary barracks and "other install
latlons" obtained under allegedly
unequal treaties.
officials here understood that
the proclamation was being ap-
piled also to ESench and Neither
lands consular property, but not
to that of the British and Rus
slams in a similar category. It
was not known here whether &C
tion had been completed against
the French and Dutch.
Seizure of the American prop
erty-one of four consular COM
pounds maintained there for years
by this Government-occurred at
$50 am. yesterday $3.50 pm.
Friday Washington time) when
police and four civilian Commu-
mist officials invaded" the prem
tSes.
American Consul General O.
Edmund Club received formal
requisition order stipulating ode
lay not to be permitted"-on jan
uary 7.
The State Department kept the
matter secret for more than a
week in the vain hope that the
Communist authorities could be
persuaded not to carry out their
plans. But the Communists ig-
nored our protests, which were
supported by British representa-
tions. They returned Mr.. Clubb's
communications without answers
Announcement of the actual
seizure came shortly before 1890
am. yesterday, more than Il
hours after it occurred. Officials
said there was some delay in COM
munications from Peiping, al
though they had not been cut off
The American property requisi-
toned was acquired under 1901
treaty following the Boxer rebel
lion in China. giving the United
States and other powers the right
to use certain land for officia.
purposes and maintain their own
military guard. American right
to the property was reaflrmed in
a 1943 treaty under which this
Government relinquished its extra
territorial rights in China.
Mr.. Club emphasized the
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