§ 6. Mr. Fitzroy Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the scope and purpose of the procedural and preliminary discussions now in progress between His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires in Peking and the Chinese Communist authorities; and what progress has been made with them.
§ Mr. YoungerOn 6th January, 1950, His Majesty's Government addressed a formal Note to the Central People's Government recognising them as the de jure Government of China. In a reply dated 9th January, the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs signified the willingness of his Government to establish diplomatic relations witch His Majesty's Government on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect for territory and sovereignty. The Chinese Government, having subsequently expressed a desire for discussion of preliminary and procedural matters relating 929 to the establishment of diplomatic relations, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires was instructed to proceed to Peking for this purpose. Thereafter, certain questions, namely, on the subject of Chinese representation in the United Nations and Chinese State property, were raised orally by the Central People's Government and an oral reply was communicated to them. The next step now rests with the Central People's Government.
§ Mr. MacleanCan the Minister say why discussions should be necessary at all, let alone discussions lasting for three or four months? Surely the establishment of normal diplomatic relations is quite a simple straightforward matter, to be settled without prolonged discussions?
§ Mr. YoungerWe had hoped that that would be the case, but it takes two to make a bargain. We are trying to establish these relations as soon as we can.
§ Mr. MacleanWill the Minister give an undertaking that in the course of this bargaining no concessions will be made involving any departure from usually accepted procedure?
§ Mr. YoungerI do not think that any question of concessions arises in this case.