893.01/10–2649
The Ambassador in Canada (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 31.]
No. 637
Secretary of State for External Affairs L. Pearson announced in the House of Commons yesterday that Canada will not extend recognition [Page 146] to the Communist Government of China until that government can be shown to be independent of USSR control.
Mr. Pearson stated that two requirements for recognition exist. These are: (1) a government must be independent of external control by another state; (2) a government must exercise effective control over the territory which it claims. Mr. Pearson made it clear that recognition would not necessarily follow even if Communist China met the stated requirements.
Canada, Mr. Pearson added, is keeping in close touch with “like-minded” governments with respect to developments in China. He said: “Very careful consideration is being and will continue to be given to all the implications arising out of the situation there which is so important to the peace of the world.”
The question of Canadian recognition of Communist China was heightened when T. C. Davis, Canadian Ambassador to China, stated a short time ago in a press interview in San Francisco that Canada could do business with Communist China. Ambassador Davis is now in Ottawa for consultation. He has been extremely chary of making further public statements along this line and has told inquiring reporters only that China wants to do business with Canada. When asked for comment on his San Francisco statement, Mr. Davis told a Citizen reporter: “You people have been asking me the same questions all across the country, and I’m sorry I cannot answer them before reporting to the government.”
Mr. Pearson’s statement in Parliament has evidently finished discussion for the time being on recognition of China. It seems not improbable, however, that Canada may give further consideration to the question upon learning the results of the Singapore meeting of Commonwealth representatives.
American Minister