His Majesty Protests

Britain recognized Red China more than a year ago. Red China has not yet recognized Britain.

Britain has opposed sanctions against Red China. Last week the House of Commons heard how Red China applies sanctions against Britain.

Conservative M.P. Fitzroy (Escape to Adventure) MacLean asked the government about the "closing" of His Majesty's consulate at Tihwa, capital of Sinkiang, where China's far west meets Russia and India. Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ernest Davies read from a report from H.M.'s consul general at Tihwa, George Fox Holmes:

"Search of all personnel and premises [at Tihwa consulate] took place on 4th and 5th December, 1950 . . .

"Thirty armed [Red Chinese police] took over, first searching both men and women after the removal of their outer clothing, then each room separately. This process lasted for 37 hours without letup, interspersed with interrogation, false accusations, and constant surveillance even to the extent of ladies being accompanied into bathrooms. Speech with one another was forbidden.

"Just before midnight on 5th-6th December the police departed, after obtaining ... signatures to the effect that ... we had been courteously treated throughout . . . Guards were left in the house and all consular personnel placed under house arrest.

"On 8th and 11th December, I was interrogated at length on ... Foreign Office . . . telegrams to me; source of financial supplies; reason for maintaining the attitude that I had the right to protect American property ... I was only allowed to return to the consulate after I claimed exhaustion had brought on a heart attack--my pulse being 140 per minute. "On 27th December I was called to the Central Police Office where [an] expulsion order was read to me only once in the following terms: [I was] guilty of espionage crimes against the Chinese and Russian people ... I, together with my family and staff, must leave China within five days. Only sufficient luggage for our immediate personal needs might be carried . . .

"We arrived in Peking on 30th December . . . After five hours' delay, without food for a whole day, [we were] taken to a filthy Chinese hotel for the night. At no time were we allowed to get in touch with [H.M.'s charge d'affaires at Peking]. On 31st December, we went by train to Tientsin under escort, were placed in the Rich hotel and not allowed to leave the bedroom or talk with anyone . . . We were then put on board the S.S. Heinrich Jessen for Hong Kong."

Explained Minister Davies to M.P. MacLean: "Alleged charges of espionage . . . were quite incorrect and unjustified, and we are protesting to Peking against the expulsion."

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