893.01/12–1649: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—10:58 a. m.]
4994. Embtel 4836, December 5. Although Cabinet met yesterday and assumably considered recognition Chinese Communists, informal inquiries various levels Foreign Office have so far failed to elicit any information re Cabinet decision.
Reliable American correspondent informs Embassy his inquiry Attlee’s74 secretary last night resulted in guarded statement Cabinet decision definitely in favor recognition and Bevin given discretion as [Page 224] to timing. Assumably Foreign Office would wish consult new government[s] Australia and New Zealand before announcing decision.
Information from other press sources indicates apparent imminence Communist attack on Formosa has raised new technical questions, it being realized that Formosa is still legally Japanese territory and UK has certain responsibilities that connection.
- Clement R. Attlee, British Prime Minister.↩