893.00B/7–2049: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas)
2516. As you already know we are engaged in very thorough study and reexamination of our policy in the Far East with particular reference to what should now be done throughout the area to check the spread of Communism. In our current thinking study of problem of what if anything can be done on Chinese mainland must not be allowed to obscure various measures which can be taken throughout area. I wish you would see Bevin if possible before he leaves on vacation and tell him that I have asked you to continue for me series of frank private conversations which he and I had in Washington and Paris. You can remind him that on two occasions he spoke metaphorically of taking a “trip around the world” in order to see whether our two countries could not have a common policy. I now want to have through you a frank exchange of views with him regarding the Far East in a “matey sort of way” as he expressed it in Paris when we discussed Hong Kong, before either Govt has finally crystallized its position. Accordingly, following points can be mentioned to him as problems rather than as indicating positions already taken by this Govt. You may wish to remind him that UK has strongly urged need of firm position in case Commies attack Hong Kong and asked our support. Does this view not imply need firm common position all along line?
Among most immediate problems are attitudes to be taken toward the Chinese Communists. This problem includes question of continued recognition of National Govt through its various vicissitudes contemplating even possibility of its being a govt in exile. As a corollary there is question of non-recognition of Communist govt especially as it may spread its control and, possibly with Soviet backing, assert that it is the govt of China. This question may arise in regard to seating Chinese representatives in UN, Far Eastern Commission, and other international bodies. Next there is question of trade with Communists, On this point we already know that British are reluctant to take steps which might injure their commercial interests. We are somewhat [Page 51] disturbed by reports of British business interests approaching Commie officials and suggesting cooperation. I think this subject needs to be reviewed in light of the far greater and graver issues of possible Communist domination not only of China but remainder Asia as well. Bevin stressed this broad approach in a memo on South East Asia which he handed me in April.98 There is also question of protection or withdrawal of nationals from Commie areas of China.
We are further considering and I would value Bevin’s views on the desirability of broadening the consideration of all these problems by exploratory consultations with other interested govts including not only the UK, Canada and France but also Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and the Asiatic countries, such as India, Burma, Philippines, Siam, etc. The Chiang-Quirino discussions present us with obvious risk of misunderstandings in moving forward along these lines but we do not now think the possibility of consultation should be written off because of the implications of a possible Chinese-Korean-Philippine Pact. You will have noted the negative position which I took on a Pacific Pact in my press statement of May 18.99 Preliminary consultations could perhaps begin with problems we shall all face in terms of recognition of Chinese Govt and dealing with Chinese Commies, As you know, we have already initiated consultations on this latter point. We would also in any such consultations avoid trying to take leadership in sponsoring any grouping of countries interested in Pacific. We think first steps along such lines should be taken by Asiatic states, preferably under Nehru’s leadership. At this stage we would want to establish principle of consultation in advance rather than agreement on specific proposals. We would like to know how far the UK would support us in any such conversations. For your own info only we may begin certain talks with Canadians immediately. If Bevin raises other points including those he has raised previously such as Japan, please say we wish to explore with him all aspects Far Eastern situation.
Bevin should also be told we plan to publish the so-called China White Paper1 about end of month. This will be entirely frank revelation of situation particularly since 1945 and will include texts of many documents. It will frankly reveal deficiencies of Chinese National Govt. It carefully avoids materials involving policies or actions of UK or other govts except US, China and Soviet Union.
[Page 52]You will of course have in mind any points of view which may have developed in Kennan’s2 conversations.
- Dated April 2; not printed.↩
- See Department of State Bulletin, May 29, 1949, p. 696.↩
- Department of State, United States Relations With China (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1949); for correspondence on the publication of the White Paper, see pp. 1365 ff.↩
- George F. Kennan, Director of the Policy Planning Staff, who was visiting in London.↩