893.01/1–349

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. Ford1 called by appointment today and informed me that his Embassy had received a message from the British Foreign Office set ting forth the views of the British Government on the foregoing-subject. Mr. Ford handed me the attached document,2 which, he said, was the gist of the message: While the Foreign Office was inclined, at first thought, to think that this question might not arise if the Communists should enter a coalition government, the Foreign Office was prepared to examine the problem exhaustively as soon as a coalition should be formed. Mr. Ford commented that the Foreign Office had indicated that it was of the opinion that both the question of recognition and the economic deficiencies of a Communist-controlled China would place bargaining weapons in the hands of the British Government in connection with protection of its interests in China. In brief, Mr. Ford said that the British position on this question was much the same as that of the United States Government.

Referring to the position of the British Ambassador3 at Nanking in the event of the withdrawal of the Chinese Government, Mr. Ford stated that the Foreign Office had now instructed him to report on the situation at the time of such withdrawal and seek instructions from the Foreign Office prior to taking any action.4

  1. J. F. Ford, First Secretary of the British Embassy.
  2. Infra.
  3. Sir Ralph Stevenson.
  4. For correspondence in regard to the location of embassies in China, see vol. viii , “Successive moves of the Embassy office in China in efforts to remain near the headquarters of the Chinese Government.”