§ 34. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he expects to obtain permission from the Chinese People's Republic to send an ambassador to Pekin; and why the Chargé d' Affaires there is referred to as the negotiating representative and not as Chargé d' Affaires.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyThe answer to the second part of the Question is that Her Majestys' Chargé d' Affaires in Peking is referred to by the Chinese authorities as such and not as a "negotiating representative." As regards the first part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government recognised the Chinese People's Government in January, 1950, sent a representative to Peking in February of that year and would have been prepared to exchange Ambassadors forthwith. The Chinese Government, however, did not appoint a representative to London until 1954, when they nominated a Chargé d' Affaires, making it clear that they did not for the time being want to raise the level of representation. There has been no change in this situation.
§ Mr. TeelingWith regard to the second part of my Question, first answered, does my hon. Friend realise that he is slightly misinformed by whoever misinformed him on these matters, and that I personally received proof of this on my recent trip in the Far East? Secondly, does he realise that there is at the moment a fairly strong feeling in the Far East and elsewhere that, after eight years, it is about time, if we are to have an Ambassador, that we had one soon? There is such a thing as face in the Far East, and we are fast losing it.
§ Mr. HarveyI am not aware of what information or misinformation my hon. Friend may have obtained, but if he will give me details of what he saw I shall be glad to look into that part of the matter. I appreciate the point he makes with regard to the first part of the Question, but the situation remains at the moment as I stated it.