893.01/10–449

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Freeman)

In the course of a conversation today with Mr. Bounous74 on other subjects relating to China, he brought up the question of possible recognition of the Chinese Communist regime. Mr. Bounous indicated some concern over press reports both in this country and in England which, in his opinion, forecast recognition of the Chinese Communists by the British Government in the not far distant future. He inquired whether formal consultations were in fact taking place between the U.S. Government and other interested powers and indicated that, if such were the case, the Italian Government would very much like to be included.

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I replied to Mr. Bounous along the lines of Mr. McDermott’s statement to the press of yesterday,75 adding that it was not the Department’s intention to institute new and formal consultations with other interested powers on this subject. I pointed out that this Government some time ago recommended to all interested friendly governments that a united front be adopted toward the question of recognizing any Chinese Communist regime and that since that time we had continued an informal exchange of views on this matter with most of these governments. I also stated that the Department was not of the opinion the announcement from Peiping of the establishment of a Chinese Communist “government” added any urgency to the discussion of this subject.

In response to my question as to whether, in his opinion, a united front on this matter was feasible, Mr. Bounous replied that his government was concerned primarily over a possible split on this issue between the British and the U.S. He indicated, however, that if the British should decide to recognize the Chinese Communists independently, the Italian Government would in his opinion follow the line of the U.S. and continue to withhold recognition. Mr. Bounous added, however, that the position of the French Government was somewhat different, and he felt that in this event it would be difficult for the French to withstand the pressure for recognition which would be brought upon the government.

  1. Franco Bounous, First Secretary of the Italian Embassy.
  2. Michael J. McDermott, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State on press relations, had underscored that aspect of the Department’s approach to the recognition problem which included consultation with other powers.