I COMMUNIST PERSECUTION RAGES IN 47 DISTRICTS IN CHINA I

By Fr. PATRICK O'CONNOR
Although Chinese p u bI i c opinion now is notably favourable to the Catholic Church, two Bishops along with a number of priests, Brothers and nuns, both Chinese and foreigners, still are being held prisoners by Communists in north and north-east China.
Of China's 138 ecclesiastical divisions, Communist persecutions affect 26 seriously and 21 others less acutely.
Mgr. Ignatius Krause, a Polish V incentian at Shun teh-F u , in Hopei Province, with six Polish and three Chinese Sisters, were seized by Communists on December 4, and, according to last reports, still sre being held captives Two priests and a Brother were ill-treated and rendered unconscious, an incident which evoked a protest from the Polish chargé d'allaires
Nanking to Communist representatives. Ten days later there still has been no reply from Yenan.
Latest reports indicate that another Bishop, along with a number of priests. Brothers and nuns, were being held prisoners under eircum stances of great hardship in the Yenki district of Manchuria,
It is known that several embassies which took up Cases of missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant, who had been ill-treated by Communists,
have met with unsatisfactory experiences, similar to that of the Polish Government representative.
Some eleven weeks ago, I was promised an official investigation by the Communists of reported cases in violation of religious freedom, but I have received no reply yet, despite repeated requests for action. A similar investigation was assured by the Communist authority in Manchuria, but that also has been without results.