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  4. Document 752

701.5193/1–2349: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

Paris, January 23, 1949—5 p. m.
[Received 6:21 p. m.]

293. Foreign Office source advises that if Communists establish government at Nanking, French Ambassador will probably be instructed proceed to Shanghai. French thinking is that his continued presence Nanking would be an implied de facto recognition Communist government and would prove embarrassing if latter requests seat on Security Council.13

Foreign Office considers Shanghai most advantageous as offering communications with France and possibility maintaining contact with Nanking and perhaps Canton (just prior to Chiang’s14 withdrawal, Foreign Office received note from Chinese Embassy here “inviting” French Ambassador to follow government to Canton).

Caffery
  1. Of the United Nations.↩
  2. President Chiang Kai-shek retired on January 21 in favor of Vice President Li Tsung-jen as Acting President of the Republic of China.↩