September 16. The first batch of all-weather F-86D interceptors was officially turned over to the Chinese Air Force in a ceremony officiated by General Chen Chia-shang, commander-in-chief of the CAF, and Major General Kenneth O. Sanborn, chief of air force section, MAAG.
17. President Chiang Kai-shek appointed Minister of Finance C. K. Yen the chief Chinese delegate to the 15th annual meeting of the board of directors of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Other members of the delegation appointed include: Chang Tse-kai, adviser to Bank of Taiwan; Ho Pao-shu, general manager of China Development Corporation; Tan Po-yu and Lee Kan, secretaries of the International Bank.
18. Jean Chamant, deputy speaker of French National Assembly and his mission concluded one-week visit in Taiwan and left for Hongkong en route to Paris. Before his departure, Mr. Chamant told a press conference that he strongly supports the Chinese government's proposal for an exchange of ambassadors between the two countries. He expressed the belief that promotion of Sino-French relations will further consolidate the strength of free nations and contribute to world peace. At the press conference, Jean Baylot, member of the French National Assembly, said that Kinmen is the symbol of freedom for Chinese compatriots everywhere. He called on the free world to give effective support to China to make Kinmen a spring-board to freedom for the enslaved people on the mainland.
20. Vice President and Premier Chen Cheng made his semi-annual report verbally to the 26th session of the Legislative Yuan. In his report, the Vice President declared that the government will stress quality rather than numbers in the armed forces as a means to strengthen the nation's war potential. The Vice President's report was divided into four main parts dealing with the nation's military buildup, economic development, the present world situation, and the prospects of national recovery.
New French Minister Charge d'Affaires Emile de Curton arrived in Taipei from Paris to assume his office.
21. The Republic of China together with other 12 countries was elected vice president of the 96-member United Nations General Assembly. The other 12 countries are: Japan, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Panama, Canada, United Kingdom, the United States, USSR and France.
22. The Executive Yuan approved the appointments of Wang Feng as the new Chinese ambassador to Guatemala and Woo Shih-ying as ambassador to both Cameroon and Togo. Mr. Wang is presently Chinese minister in Guatemala and Mr. Woo was once Chinese minister in Japan and director of East Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry.
Guatemalan Government appointed Rodolfo Espinosa Sanchez as its first ambassador to China.
Francis E. Steward, member of the Australian Parliament and Mrs. Steward arrived in Taipei for a three-day visit to free China.
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and the Republic of Congo formally established. The Republic of China recognized and established diplomatic relations with both the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Mali.
24. Tien Chiung-chin, chairman of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, hailed the United Nations decision of putting the Tibetan issue on the General Assembly agenda. At the same time he expressed the hope that the United Nations conduct an investigation into the Chinese Communist atrocities against the Tibetan people. The "land reform" being now carried on in Tibet and the forcing of Tibetan youths to carry Tibet's foodstuffs to the designated centers are clear indications of the Communist design of communizing Tibet, Mr. Tien said.
E. L. Mallalieu, member of the British Lower House, arrived here from Hongkong for a two-day visit.
The five-member Thai police mission left for Bangkok after winding up a five-day visit in free China. Prior to his departure, Lieutenant General Uthai Yasasindhu, chief of the Thai police mission, lauded the social security and public order in Taiwan. He also praised the Chinese government for its reformatory measures on Communist agents.
25. Patrick J. Lindsay, member of Lower House of Ireland, expressed his belief that the Republic of China would finally recover the Chinese mainland. He said that there is a great hope for the Republic of China to return to the mainland so long as the Chinese government continues its efforts toward this goal. He expressed hope that the enslaved people on the Chinese mainland might come and acquire first hand information on the progress and achievements made on Taiwan.
26. In a press conference upon his return from a visit to the Middle East, General Peng Meng-chi, chief of the general staff, declared that the Republic of China's efforts in various aspects of administration have won friends among the Middle East countries. General Peng and his military mission left Taipei on August 22. They visited Turkey, Iran and Jordan and made an informal tour of Italy, France, Lebanon, the United States and Japan en route home.
The China Committee of the World Refugee Year sent to UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold US$75,000 as the ROC contribution for non-Chinese refugees the world over.
28. The 2510th birthday anniversary of Confucius was celebrated throughout the nation. President Chiang Kai-shek personally officiated a celebration meeting which was attended by all the ranking officials of the central government, top military commanders and representatives from the Legislative and Control Yuan and the National Assembly.
29. The third plenary session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Kuomintang opened with President Chiang Kai-shek presiding in his capacity as the director-general of the party. All members and alternate members of the Central Committee, members of the Central Advisory Committee, and Kuomintang members serving as heads of government agencies, numbering more than 300, attended the plenary session which is held twice a year.
October 1. The Republic of China formally extended its diplomatic recognition to the Federation of Nigeria in Africa. President Chiang Kai-shek sent a message of congratulations to Abubaka Tafawa Balewa, premier of the Federation on the occasion of its independence.
2. The third plenary session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Kuomintang concluded its five-day meeting with a resolution calling for unity among Chinese anti-Communist people both at home and abroad. The closing session, presided over by its director general, President Chiang kai-shek, elected 15 members to the Central Standing Committee of the party. They are: Chang Tao-fan, Ku Cheng-kang, Chang Chi-yun, Chow Chih-jou, Yuan Shou-chien, Tao Hsi-sheng, Huang Chi-lu, Chiu Nien-tai, Huang Chao-chin, Shen Chang-huan, Hu Chien-chung, Ku Feng-hsiang, Chiang Ching- kuo, Wang Shu-ming and Peng Meng-chi.
3. The Taiwan Garrison Command (TGC) concluded the trial of Lei Chen, publisher of the Free China Fortnightly, and his two associates, Liu Tsu-ying, secretary of the Academia Historica, and Ma Tsu-su, manager of the Fortnightly. The trial was attended by about 80 persons, with family members of the defendants and newsmen given priority. Lei's lawyer Lin Sung-ho and Fang Hsieh-li and Liu's defender Col. Mao. Yen-ling were all present to make their pleas for the defendants.
5. Milton A. Berger, head of the US Commerce Department's Far Eastern Division, said that Taiwan is a place safe and secure for investment. He pointed out that the new Chinese laws to attract investment, with provisions for tax concessions, installment payments and land acquisition power, have paved the way to facilitate foreign investment.
The Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen distributed more than 470 hectares of farmland to 802 retired veterans. Officiating at the land-awarding ceremony, Governor Chou Chih-jou gave the retired servicemen certificates entitling each to a piece of land capable of producing 1,000 kilograms of grain annually. In addition, they get houses, furniture, vehicles, draft animals and farm implements. Each recipient received a total award amounting to NT$40,000.
James Shen, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that the Chinese Government will never recognize the so-called boundary treaty signed between Burma and the Peiping regime last October 1. He said that the Government has earlier made known to the world that the Chinese Communist regime on the mainland, being a puppet created by Soviet Russia, has no right to conclude any treaty or agreement with any foreign government in the name of the Chinese people
7. The German Federal Republic presented a shipment of farm machines to the Taiwan Land Bank to help facilitate the implementation of the farm mechanization training center. This shipment valued at DM400,000. With these farm machines, the Land Bank will launch a drive for farm mechanization of Taiwan along with other leading agricultural schools and farmers organizations.
8. Lei Chen, publisher of the Free China Fortnightly was sentenced by a military court of the Taiwan Garrison Command to ten years imprisonment His specific charges were failure to report a Communist agent whose identity was clearly known to him and engaging in propaganda activities in the form of published writings aiding and abetting the Communist rebels. Liu Tsu-ying, secretary of Academia Historica, who confessed to being a Communist spy, received 12 years of imprisonment for his guilt of "attempting, and taking steps, to overthrow the Government by unlawful means." Ma Tsu-su, manager of Free China Fortnightly, was given five years in prison for being "guilty of acts preparatory to overthrowing the Government by unlawful means." In announcing the sentences, the TGC court told Lei, Liu and Ma that they may appeal for a reconsideration of the verdict within 10 days after receipt of the official verdict.
Humberto Arguello Tafel, new Nicaraguan minister to China, presented his credentials to President Chiang Kai-shek.
The Republic of China established an embassy in Leopoldville, capital of the Congo Republic (Belgian) and sent Shen Chin-ting, former ambassador to Japan, as ambassador to Congo to handle the opening of the Chinese Embassy.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek led more than 200 Chinese and foreign ladies and representatives of the Taipei diplomatic corps to make Double Tenth calls at various military hospitals. Foreign ambassadors and American military chiefs on Taiwan also participated in the event to extend their Double Tenth congratulations to Chinese sick and wounded servicemen. Each hospitalized servicemen of the visited hospitals received from the Chinese visitors an envelop containing NT$30 and a message of encouragement and, from the foreign ladies, a gift package containing daily necessities.
9. President Chiang Kai-shek expressed his firm belief in his Double Tenth message delivered on the eve of 49th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China that within three or five years at most the national aim of overthrowing the Communist regime and delivering the suffering Chinese people on the mainland from tyranny will be achieved. However, the President also warned that the nearer the victory is, the more difficult the situation and the more grim the fight will be.
10. President Chiang Kai-shek inspected the biggest military parade in the history of free China held in commemoration of the 49th National Day anniversary. Over 5,000 overseas Chinese, foreign guests and spectators attended the anniversary ceremony and witnessed the military parade which consisted of 13,000 troops of 23 different units. For the first time in Chinese history a unit of Chinese WAC's in neat uniforms and high-heeled shoes participated in the review. People throughout the island celebrated the National Day with many jubilant activities.
11. In an exclusive interview with Davis Merwin of the US Coply News Service, President Chiang kai-shek reiterated that the Republic of China will never abandon the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu even under the threat of withdrawal of US support.
Commenting on Senator Kennedy's views concerning Kinmen and Matsu, James Shen, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said: "It is ridiculous to say that these islands are indefensible, for they have been successfully defended for ten years against the repeated Communist attempts to take them. Even the Communists have come to know it. We could only wish that Senator Kenndy had visited Kinmen and Matsu to see for himself whether they are defensible."
12. The entry and exit examination stations were formally set up at Keelung and Kaohsiung to simplify foreign visitors' entry and exit procedures. These stations were formed under the newly proclaimed government regulation which stipulates that foreigners to Taiwan for no more than 72-hour visit are exempted from applying for entry visa from the Chinese government.
14. Rear Admiral Liu Hoh-tu, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said that the Republic of China, having sufficient strength to defend Kinmen and Matsu, needs no American manpower for defense. He emphasized that there was not a single American soldier participating in the battle during the Kinmen flareup in August, 1958.
James Shen, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, told the press that the Chinese Government "cannot but regret that most of the 17 newly independent countries found it expedient to abstain on the resolution to shelve the question of China's representation, not to mention the three which voted against it" in the UN General Assembly last October 8. However, he expressed confidence that "with a greater understanding of the nature of the world struggle between freedom and Communist enslavement, these newly independent countries will in time fully realize that neutralism is a false gospel and that, by being neutralist, they are hurting the cause of freedom in which each of them must have a vital interest."