893.01/9–749: Telegram
The Consul General at Singapore (Langdon) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9—9:43 a. m.]
254. We believe here sentiment large alien Chinese population Malaya, Hong Kong and commercial interests those colonies will figure largely in UK approach to question of recognition (Depcircr August 19), hence expect final decision will coincide those interests and have their support. We thus gauged views, wishes main elements concerned.
Governor here who was pre-war governor Hong Kong told source his Government would make representations London vs. any recognition of Chinese Commie government but in same breath said if local Chinese business interests made strong representations to him over cutting off trade with China as when Dutch cut off trade with Indonesia he would in turn make representations to London, adding, “will trade with Commie China if we can. Britain doesn’t want drop Iron Curtain. After all Britain is now increasing its trade with USSR itself.”
President Singapore Chamber Commerce (European) told source if British Government decided to withhold recognition for national good, British business in Malaya would go along but “you may be sure British business in Malaya and Hong Kong will wish continue trade with China under Commie Government. If trade with China ceases, trade between Malaya and Hong Kong will also scale down and present state business can hardly stand further adversity.”
Alien Chinese businessmen most of whom now have local or worldwide interests have no strong views on recognition. All wish trade with China to continue but seem prepared write it off if recognition prejudicies their security and well being. Imports ex-China worth about 50 million dollars comprise only 6 percent total, exports not quite 3 percent. About half alien Chinese in Malaya still have family ties in China and are anxious lest unable continue remittances to relatives but not preparing do anything if channels cut off owing physical or political causes.
Chinese Foreign Office representatives here admit wide apathy their people Malaya toward matter but believe British Government would be subjected heavy pressure by large Fukien community with its many big merchants and leaders which is under influence Tan Kah-kee (spoken of as Overseas Minister in future Commie coalition government) if it withheld recognition.
Question has not come up [apparent omission] suggesting bearing on internal security Malaya, Hong Kong unimportant. As champion [Page 76] of containing communism in SEA and without any illusions re Chinese Communism, MacDonald33 unlikely barter recognition cheaply. His Foreign Office deputy said, “I suppose recognition will come in fullness of time and we are thinking of risks of Commie Consuls in our midst.” Chinese ConGen thinks early recognition would tend prolong terrorism because some waverers might interpret it as appeasement of Commie guerillas.
I estimate Malaya as whole will favor and urge recognition by UK but will adjust itself to non-recognition if practical grounds therefor. What France may do might not even be noticed and anyway would have little effect owing French low moral position among Asians. Non-recognition might please now liquidated Kmt but will probably not attract wide interest. One Chinese diplomat thinks non-recognition would have minor moral influence since having damned Nationalist China in White Paper we would be also damning what was left of China. Another hopes we may find way of staying behind curtain to give hope to our friends there.
- Malcolm MacDonald, British Commissioner General in Southeast Asia at Singapore.↩