893.01/10–2749: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27—3:02 a. m.]
Cantel 1229. Foreign Minister51 states Bevin had conversation with Chinese Ambassador, London, about October 20, in which Bevin [Page 147] reported to have assured that UK not contemplating full recognition in near future.
Yeh claimed that in this talk Bevin made remark that Britain was only country fighting Communists since it intended hold Hong Kong while “US only made gestures and did nothing” and Chinese Nationalist Forces always retreated without fighting.
Evatt speech of recent date in which stated Australia would follow joint line with US and UK in not recognizing Communists was discussed by Yeh. He thought Evatt might have based remarks on some very recent agreement between US and UK on recognition question but on other hand felt Evatt might “again have been talking through his hat”. Yeh said he knew Ambassador Stevenson was urging de jure recognition and he felt very keenly the failure of UK to maintain diplomatic relations with Chinese Government (Cantel 1216, October 2152) after having promised at Canton to give British ConGen here concurrent diplomatic status.