793.96/7–1849: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
Cantel 769. Following is official Chinese Government statement re Baguio Conference:
“At the invitation of His Excellency, President Elpidio Quirino of the Republic of the Philippines, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Kuomintang, paid a visit to Baguio on July 10th for an exchange of views on matters concerning Sino-Philippmes relations and the general situation in the Far East. As a result of this exchange of views, a joint statement was issued on July 11th.
“The joint statement, apart from affirming the desirability of closer economic and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines, proposed the immediate formation of a union of Far Eastern countries for the purpose of achieving solidarity and mutual assistance to contain and counteract the spread of Communist menace in the world and particularly in Asia.
“The Executive Yuan, after careful consideration and having had the support of the representatives of the Social Democratic and Young China Parties, is of the opinion that the proposed union of the Far Eastern countries is consonant with the needs of both the current general situation in the Far East and the particular conditions prevailing in China.
[Page 1168]“The Executive Yuan, in accordance with the relative resolution passed at its 75th meeting, has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare plans for the early realization of the proposed union.”
Sent Department Cantel 769: repeated Manila 21.