Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-13
Tunker
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Onk6I
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On March 10 the State Depart
ment announced that this COM
pany was Communist -owned.
Senator McClellan's statement
renewed the controversy started
almost two years when Senator
Mccarthy, Republican, of Wis
consin. then the subcommittee
chairman, investigated trade of
this country's allies with Com
munist China. Then and since
then the Wisconsin Republican
has demanded that the admin
istration withhold aid from
allied countries carrying on such
trade.
One Of the companies named
by the subcommittee at that time,
Senator Mcclellan pointed out,
was Far Eastern Enterprises.
Most of these same companies
are still operating" Senator Nc
Clellan continued, land this trip
of the vessel Aruba dramatizeS
the price we are paying for the
protection the British Crown
Colony of Hong Kong is giving
these companies, and the fail
IRE of our Government to do
something about this disgrace
full situation"
Get British Protection.
Senator Mcclellan said ma
iority of the vessels operated by
Hong Kong companies fly the
British flag and receive protec-
ton of the British fleet in that
area. In this connection, the
Arkansas Senator said. the sub
committee had received a letter
from the State Department say
ing:
1T is the understanding of
the department that it has been
the British practice to assign
a few light naval vessels having
patrol duty in the vicinity for
the British Crown Colony of
Hong Kong and the Formosa
Strait. They apparently have
orders to render such assistance
as they can to British merchant
ships in the area which en-
counter interference or other
difficulties"
A spokesman for the British
Embassy here, questioned on
this point, said he feared Sem
ator McClellan's words might
leave an impression that ships
flying the British flag are be-
ing permitted to carry war sup
plies to the Chinese.
The fact of the matter is that
if they're British flag ships they
have to comply with British reg
ulationS, and therefore may not
carry anything on the prohibited
strategic list" the spokesman
said.
Faces Seizure of Cargo
He verified that British naval
vessels around Hong Kong would
protect any British ship carry
ing non strategic goods to Red
China-"against the Nationalist
or anyone else" But he said
fatty the Aruba would get no
such protection. He added that
if it is carrying contraband and
puts into Hong Kong, the cargo
will be impounded.
The United States bans all
American trade with Red China.
The United Nations has called
on member and non-member ma
tons to bar shipments of stra-
tegic goods to the Chinese Com
munists. Finland is nom
member.
Meanwhile, there was continu-
ing debate as to what ought to
be done about the Aruba, as
Stunning it does not put into
Hong Kong.
Senate Republican Leader
Knowland yesterday urged use
of the United States 7th Fleet,
if necessary, to intercept the
tanker. His suggestion, however,
was challenged promptly by
Democratic Senator George of
Georgia, chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee.
Chang Kai-shek already has
announced he would use his Ma
tionalist naval units to stop the
tanker. Senator Knowland said
he believes the Generalissimo is
capable of doing so.
Fuel Build-up for Invasion
But If he isn't" Senator
Knowland added. then certain
ly as long as the truce in Korea
is being violated and American
prisoners are being held in Com
munist China, it would be the
height of folly to permit the
shipment Of jet fuel that can
be used against U.S."
Senator Knowland said there
is an obvious attempt to build up
fuel on the China coast for an
attack on Formosa. Asked di-
rectly If he would use the 7th
Fleet to stop the tanker, Senator
Knowland said he would If other
| raea ne fail He said other y,oanne