Peking's Pique

Improving relations between Washington and Peking have given U.S. journalists access to mainland China, and the New York Times has been a principal beneficiary of the thaw. Six Times-men have been granted temporary visas in the past two years; the paper had reason to believe that it would be the first U.S. daily permitted to reopen a permanent bureau in Peking. Last week, however, it suddenly seemed as if the Times would have to choose between fulfilling that hope and maintaining control over the political advertising it accepts.

On a number of occasions in the past, diplomats had quietly conveyed Peking's pique over the appearance in the Times of ads purchased by anti-Communist Chinese groups. Last week that annoyance became loud and official. As if dealing with a foreign government, Chou Nan, counselor to China's mission to the United Nations, called in Managing Editor A.M. Rosenthal to hear a formal statement. In a story published the next day, the Times gave an account of the meeting: "He was told by Mr. Chou that he [Chou] had been instructed 'by my government' to say that acceptance of advertisements by the Times from 'reactionary' Chinese was an 'unfriendly act,' that it was against the improvement of understanding between the Chinese and American peoples, and that it was not in the best interests of the exchange of newsmen between the two countries."

Not Moved. Rosenthal responded that political advertising is part of a free press and that the Times would not change its policy. Chou, the editor observed, "was not moved by the explanation." Does that mean no Times bureau in Peking, Rosenthal asked? "Mr. Chou said that he had nothing to add to his formal oral statement, and then smiled and said 'You can draw your own conclusions.' "

One ad that angered the Chinese appeared May 10. Purchased by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, a group headquartered in Manhattan's Chinatown, it opposed diplomatic ties between Washington and Peking. The Washington Post and the New York Daily News have run similar ads, but so far have not heard any objections from the mainland. Chou refused to discuss the incident with other newsmen, saying that his conversation with Rosenthal had been "private and off the record."

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