353. Editorial Note
In a conversation between President Eisenhower and British Foreign Secretary Lord Home on September 19, 1960, the President commented briefly on Sino-Soviet relations and on the question of Chinese representation in the United Nations. The relevant portion of a memorandum of the conversation by John S.D. Eisenhower reads as follows:
“Lord Home then requested the President to notify the British in advance of what he is going to say at the UN. The President agreed. He then brought up the matter of the closing down of nuclear plants on a plant-by-plant basis. This he felt was infeasible since it would be possible for the Soviets to open new plants in Red China while closing down old ones in Russia. Mr. Herter and Mr. Kohler expressed doubt that this could happen in view of the distrust the Soviets hold for the Chinese Communists and the present strain in their relationships. The President pointed out that we cannot count on any strain in relationships to work to our advantage. Ambassador Whitney then volunteered that the present sanctuary [Page 724] status of Communist China, in which the UN would have no inspection rights within her borders, would present a strong argument for bringing the Chinese Communists into the UN. The President replied rather sharply that if the Chinese Communists are admitted, the U.S. will leave. Opinion is strong on this line and will remain so, barring a change in deportment on the part of the Chinese Communists. As evidence, the President noted that both Presidential candidates are strongly advocating non-admittance of the Red Chinese to the UN.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries)