340.290/2–2351: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Secretary of State
4591. Reference Deptels 3873 and 3874 on Chinese representation at ECAFE. Your message to Bevin (who at present convalescing in Eastbourne) was delivered to his Foreign Office February 22 and today I called on Younger,1 Minister State, to discuss matter. Along lines of Department’s instructions I emphasized to Younger: (1) Importance of avoiding at this time any action which would indicate to USSR and Chinese Commies US–UK divergence, particularly in Far East matters, and (2) Desirability of giving latitude to US–UK delegates in Lahore to work for procedural formula which might prevent UK and US voting against each other.
Younger made following points, after repeating arguments of British Embassy note to Department:
- 1.
- ECAFE situation is different from that of recent AEC–CCA meeting since UK is committed to view ECAFE is in fact competent to decide representation question.
- 2.
- UK believes that it must continue to vote for Chinese Commie representation on these UN” bodies in order to be consistent both with its policy and realities of situation.
- 3.
- British view is that December 14 resolution is not sufficiently weighty to prevent British from voting in favor seating Chinese Commie representative.
- 4.
- Latest British information is that vote, even with British voting against US, will probably be 8 to 6 in favor US position, possibly 8 to 5 if Pakistan abstains.
- 5.
- Younger had consulted Attlee before seeing me and Prime Minister was firm that principle of Chinese Commies right to representation should not be compromised. Also Younger feels that public opinion in UK particularly in Labor Party, strongly behind government on this basic principle.
After considerable discussion, Younger agreed to consider possibility of having US and UK delegates try to work out some procedural maneuver providing it would not compromise British basic position on: (1) Chinese Commie representation and (2) ECAFE’s right to decide the question. He added caveat that UK delegate in Lahore was not skilled parliamentarian and that prospect of hitting upon some such maneuver did not appear promising. He did not however, close door completely to idea and Foreign Office will explore to see what sort of procedure might be devised. In sum, Younger gave an impression that if such procedural maneuver could be worked out [Page 234] British might abstain from voting provided that it is clear that on principle British position has not been changed.
In absence specific information as to sort of parliamentary tactics which Department has in mind I do not believe a more satisfactory answer could be obtained at this time. British position has to certain extent become firm on question Chinese Commie representation and without changes in British thinking there is slight chance of their altering their position as this problem recurs in various UN bodies.
- Kenneth G. Younger, Minister of State, British Foreign Office.↩