893.01/12–3048
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
Subject: Question of Recognition in the Event of the Establishment of a Successor or Coalition Government in China
Mr. Ford82 called today at my request to discuss the above-mentioned subject. I explained to him that recent messages received from our Embassy at Nanking indicated the possibility of the resignation of the Generalissimo and the establishment of a successor regime which would enter into negotiations with the Chinese Communists looking toward the establishment of a coalition government. I pointed out that it was our opinion that the question of recognition of such a government was one that merited the most careful study since our position with respect to the protection of American interests and property in China would be strengthened vis-à-vis any coalition government by the possession of the weapon of recognition. I informed Mr. Ford that we were at present approaching only the British Government but that it would obviously be desirable to have concerted action on the part of the British, French and United States Government since all three had interests in China which could be served advantageously in this connection. I requested that Mr. Ford take steps to ascertain the views of his Government and added that it was our desire that discussions on this subject be confined to Washington [Page 704] and that the matter not be taken up between our respective Embassies at Nanking.
Following some discussion of this question and its relation to the United Nations and other international organizations, Mr. Ford stated that he would convey the gist of our conversation to London and communicate with me farther upon the receipt of an indication of his Government’s views.
- J. F. Ford, First Secretary, British Embassy.↩