We should not be jut bizied in recognising Canton unless we wero satinfied either (1) that Canton had in fact become the government of China, or (2) that it was exercising authority over a portion of territory which had established its in-- dependence of the rest of China and was entitled to recognition as an independent state.
They
The facts do not at present justify (1). may or may not justify (2) but Canton has so far not claimed to be recognised as the government merely of part of China and it is not for His Majesty's Government to volunteer sich or indeed any recogni- tion, but rather to wait for a claim to be advanced and then to consider it on its morits with due regard to their treaty obligations and to the facts of the
situation.
Repeat to Peking, Tokyo, Shanghai, Canton and
Hongkong.
73
P.O.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.