Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume XI

117. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Chinese Ambassador (Koo) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson), Washington, August 9, 1955¹

Washington, August 9, 1955

SUBJECT

• Chinese Representation in the UN

Ambassador Koo said that his Government was concerned about its position in the United Nations. It was thought that in response to the new Communist peace propaganda campaign, a group of nations might try to force the admission of Communist China to the UN. He said that his Government was trying in every way possible to bolster its position at the coming General Assembly session. Work was being done in New York and elsewhere. But the Chinese Government needed and would like to ask the help of the United States Government, which had more influence.

Mr. Robertson assured the Ambassador that the American Government would assist in every way possible in maintaining the UN position of the Chinese Government.²

Ambassador Koo said his Government would be very grateful.

Mr. Robertson said undoubtedly an effort would be made in the UN to unseat the GRC and replace it with the Chinese Communist regime. For example, the Ceylonese Ambassador to the US had just made a speech urging the UN admission of Communist China at the Forum being held by the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University.

Ambassador Koo said he felt that Great Britain would hold the key to the resolution of this issue.

Mr. Robertson agreed that this might be the case. He remarked that the British are quite upset over the bombing of British vessels in South China ports by Chinese Nationalist planes. They have just made a strong statement to us following the bombing of the Inchwell in Foochow harbor on August 3. The British disposition to go along with the “moratorium” arrangement in the UN might be adversely affected by their anger over the Chinese attacks on British shipping. Mr. Robertson thought that a concerted effort would be required to maintain the GRC position in the UN.

Ambassador Koo said his Government was doing everything it could, but its influence was limited.

Mr. Robertson assured the Ambassador that the matter would receive our earnest attention.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/8–955. Confidential. Drafted by McConaughy. A notation on the source text indicates that Chinese representation was one of a number of topics discussed at this meeting and that separate memoranda of conversation were prepared on each subject discussed.
2. During a conversation on a number of subjects held at San Francisco, June 24, during the Commemorative Meetings of the United Nations, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Pearson had spoken of “Communist China in a way which implied that” the United States “should begin to think about recognition and admission to the United Nations.” Secretary of State Dulles “recalled that we had not recognized the Soviet Union for sixteen years, and had gotten along very well all during that period, better than afterward. Mr. Pearson said that the conditions about China were different.” The talk then turned to other matters. (Memorandum of conversation; USUN Files, IO, Dels, China)