893.01/11–2849
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
| Participants: | Mr. Hubert Graves, Counselor, British Embassy |
| Mr. Butterworth, Assistant Secretary | |
| Mr. Sprouse, CA |
Mr. Graves called this afternoon by appointment and presented the attached document,48 which, he explained, was the summary of the results of the meeting between Mr. Bevin and the High Commissioners of the Commonwealth Governments in London on November 15 regarding [Page 200] the question of recognition of the Chinese Communist regime. He further explained that the British position was still that the problem had not yet been referred to the Cabinet for a final decision but that general thinking favored recognition by the end of the year.
Mr. Butterworth pointed out that it was the Department’s understanding that the Government of India had reached a more definite decision with respect to the question of recognition than was indicated in the attached memorandum. Mr. Graves concurred and said that he had just recently communicated to Mr. Merchant later information in this regard. Mr. Butterworth said that it was his understanding that the Government of India expected to extend recognition some time between December 15 and December 25.
Mr. Graves asked that the contents of the memorandum be treated as confidential since the Commonwealth Governments would probably inform the Department of their views regarding the question of recognition.