200. Editorial Note
A letter of July 20, 1961, from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard H. Davis to Ambassador Thompson reads in part as follows:
“Since you are no doubt wondering what has happened to the detailed negotiating instructions for your dealings with the Outer Mongolian Ambassador, I thought I had better let you know where the matter stands. At present the package is in suspense, physically resting in Alex Johnson’s In-box. I am sure you are aware of the fuss which Chiang Kai-shek has kicked up over the prospect of our recognizing the MPR. This has apparently had some effect in Congress and has spilled over to involve passage of foreign aid legislation and our public stance vis-a-vis the Berlin crisis. Thus, there appears to have been a decision to do nothing further with regard to Outer Mongolia for an indefinite period.” (Department of State, Central Files, 793C.02/7-2061)
Correspondence with a number of members of Congress on this issue is ibid., 793C.02. Further documentation concerning the possibility of U.S. recognition of Mongolia is in the China compilation; see especially Documents 32, 42, 44, and 46.
On August 11 Director of the Department of State’s Office of News Lincoln White read a statement in response to a query by correspondents declaring that although the United States had for some time been exploring the question of the establishment of relations with Mongolia, “We believe that in view of the existing world situation, it is in the best interests of the United States to suspend further exploration of that matter at this time.” (Department of State Bulletin, September 4, 1961, pages 408-409)
On October 25 the United Nations Security Council recommended the admission of the Mongolian People’s Republic to the United Nations by a vote of 9-0; the United States abstained, and the Republic of China did not participate in the vote. Documentation concerning U.S. efforts to prevent the Republic of China’s use of the veto on this question is in the China compilation.
Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman recommended the renewal of action leading toward recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with Mongolia in a memorandum to Rusk of October 22, 1963, but no action was taken; see Document 192.