Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

694.001/6–1951

Draft Joint Statement of the United Kingdom and United States Governments

secret

Chinese Participation and Formosa

The Governments principally concerned with the Peace Treaty with Japan are not agreed among themselves as to what persons, if any, would possess the lawful and practical authority to commit the whole Chinese nation to permanent engagements. However, that fact should not be allowed to delay the Japanese Peace settlement, the early conclusion of which is generally agreed to be important.

It is accordingly proposed to proceed without any Chinese co-signature to the presently contemplated multilateral Treaty of peace. The interest of the Chinese people would be safeguarded by provisions in the multilateral treaty designed to assure that major benefits will accrue to China even though there is no signature or ratification of that treaty on behalf of China. Thus the draft now under consideration contemplates that when the treaty comes into force all Japanese special rights and interests in China would automatically be renounced and China would have the right to deal for its own account with Japanese property.

It is understood that the contemplated procedure will not imply any alteration in the various positions concerning China taken up by the various Allied Governments which will sign the multilateral treaty and that, under international law, Japan’s future attitude towards China must necessarily be for determination by Japan itself in the exercise of the sovereign and independent status contemplated by the treaty. The treaty has been framed so as not to prejudice that important principle.

By the contemplated multilateral treaty, Japan would renounce its sovereignty over Formosa and the Pescadores. The treaty itself would not determine the future of these islands.¹

[Washington,] 19th June, 1951.

1. Another version of this document is dated “London June 14, 1951” in an unidentified handwriting. It differs from the text printed here in two places. The word “accrue” in the June 19 text replaces “enure” in that of June 14. The last sentence of the earlier version reads: “The treaty would not try to pre-judge the future of these islands, which is still to be considered.” (Lot 54 D 423)

   The statement was not published for the reasons set forth in telegram 1811 to Tokyo, June 25, p. 1148. The decisions regarding its use were reached in a series of telegraphic messages between Mr. Dulles and Mr. Morrison, none printed, which are in file 694.001 for June and early July, 1951.

   Telegram 11 to certain American diplomatic officers, July 3, begins as follows: “Fol is text of statement agreed upon by US and UK Govts as expressing the point of view re Chi and Formosa reflected in the July 3 text of Jap Peace Treaty and procedure contemplated in relation thereto. This is sent you for your background info and guidance in case you have to discuss the point with the FonOff, but the text shld under no circumstances be communicated by you to anyone unless you shld be so instructed. [We understand, however, that this text has been confidentially communicated to FonOff through UK.]” The remainder of the telegram consists of the June 14 text of the statement on Chinese participation and Formosa. The telegram was sent to the Embassies in Australia, Burma, Canada, Ceylon, France, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the U.S.S.R. The words in brackets were omitted from the text sent to Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the U.S.S.R. (694.001/7–351)