Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

893.00/1–1249

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Washington,] January 12, 1949.

Attached is a document⁷¹ handed me this afternoon by Mr. Graves, Counselor of the British Embassy, in which is quoted the British reply declining the Chinese proposal that the British Government act as an intermediary in initiating negotiations with the Chinese Communists.

British Govemment indicates that it expects to notify the Soviet Government of its reply. I have informed Mr. Graves, after consultation with our Soviet experts, that we do not expect to inform the Soviets of our action in this matter. We are informing the French Embassy this afternoon that we are declining the Chinese proposal.

71. Not printed.