893.01/12–749
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Freeman)
Mr. Collins called today and referred to the Indian note to the Canadian Government, similar to that sent to this Government,68 indicating an intention to extend recognition to the Chinese Communists during the latter part of December. Mr. Collins stated that the Canadian Government had now replied to the Indian Government, presumably in Ottawa, expressing appreciation to the Indian Government [Page 217] for informing the Canadian Government of the former’s thinking on this question. The Canadian Government in its reply stated, however, that it wished to re-examine the whole question of China in the light of the discussions among the Commonwealth countries to be held in January at Colombo, and that in all probability Canada would take no action with regard to recognition of the Chinese Communists prior to that time.
I thanked Mr. Collins for this information and indicated that the Department would appreciate receiving any further thoughts which the Canadian Government might have on this question.