611.93/9–1450
Memorandum Handed by Sir Esler Dening of the British Foreign Office to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Rusk) in New York on September 14, 19501
Extract From Report of Indian Ambassador’s Conversation With Chou En-lai on the 9th September
In reply to Pannikar’s arguments about the necessity for restraint and in particular for avoiding unnecessary provocation of the United States of America, Chou En Lai had replied that the United States of America were quite as much at fault as China in regard to public polemics and propaganda. The American press was far more outspoken in condemnation of the Chinese Communists than the Chinese press in condemnation of America. Moreover, the Chinese people felt strongly about the bombing of Chinese territory, about the American position in regard to Formosa and United States support for the Kuomintang. While China certainly wished to enter the United Nations and while she had no desire to make the task of friendly governments more difficult, complete silence on her part would be rather one-sided as long as the American press was continuing to attack her. Pannikar concluded this section of his report by recording his view that there would be no immediate change in Chinese propaganda but that he expected the tone to grow gradually more moderate.
Pannikar reported that Chou En Lai had attached great importance to Peking representatives being allowed to sit in at the Security Council when the Chinese complaints in respect of the bombing of Manchuria2 and the American action in Formosa were discussed. Pannikar had replied that India had made it clear that she would vote in favour and that he had every reason to suppose that the United Kingdom would also do so. Bajpai commented that there was no further action which could be taken on this point.