795.00/7–1550: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
niact
[Received July 15—1:35 p. m.]
330. Eyes only for the Secretary. In order to keep in close touch with working level Foreign Office, I arranged another luncheon today with Younger, Strang, Dening and Holmes.
Strang delivered me copy of Bevin’s reply to your most recent message setting forth British position in general.1 He also gave me another document which will be subject my immediately following telegram.
The conversation was frank and personal and there follows a summary of the principal points developed. There are three basic questions affecting US and UK positions and the present situation in the FE. They are (1) the seating of the Chinese Communists in the SC (2) recognition by the US of the Chinese Communists regime, and (3) the problem of Formosa.
As to (1) there appears to be no likelihood that in present circumstances a majority could be produced in the SC in favor of seating the Chinese Communists and therefore this question is not one of immediate concern and we are both agreed that it must not be related to the specific problem of Korea.
As to (2) there is no chance whatever that the US will recognize Peiping regime, British are fully aware of this and problem does not immediately trouble us. The question to be resolved is the one of Formosa and our respective positions with regard thereto. The British officials agreed that in spite of our divergence of views with respect to Chinese Communists, it ought to be possible for us to reconcile our positions with respect to Formosa and establish a common platform which would permit us to act in closer association. They agreed that a statement by the US along the lines recommended in paragraphs 5, 6, and 7 of Embtel 291, July 14 would constitute a substantial contribution to a common position.
It is my opinion that, should we make such a statement the British will be prepared to argue our case and indeed they assure us they have been doing so in response to numerous inquiries. They consider to be of extreme importance assurances by us that once an atmosphere of peace and calm is reestablished in the FE, we will not use undue influence in determining the ultimate disposition of Formosa.
[Page 391]The British expressed the hope in which I concur, that we shall be able to see to it that there is on contribution of Armed Forces by Nationalist China to Lie’s recent appeal.