740.0011 Pacific War/3378
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Ballantine)
Sir George Sansom3a called at his request. He said that he wished to keep us informed of developments in London which might be of interest to us in relation to the Far East. He handed me an informal memorandum which dealt with a conversation between Dr. Soong and Mr. Eden on July 28, 1943. It reads as follows:
“Dr. Soong said that the Burma Campaign was the most important and most immediate question for China. He also declared inter alia that China had no territorial ambitions but he hoped we should recognize that Tibet was part of the Chinese dominions. The Secretary of State replied that our attitude had been that Tibet must be recognized to have autonomy under Chinese suzerainty. It was eventually agreed that we should state our position in regard to Tibet in a confidential memorandum.4
“Mr. Eden, in response to a question about the British Government’s ideas on collective security for the future, having outlined those ideas then assured Dr. Soong that one of the aims of the post-war system envisaged by the United Kingdom was to restrain Japanese aggression and to see a strong China. The British government would make their full contribution to those ends.”
He said that thus far the foregoing was all that had developed of interest since Dr. Soong’s arrival in London.
[Page 85]Sir George referred also to an address delivered by Mr. Anthony Eden at the “Salute to China” Meeting, held in Royal Albert Hall on July 7, 1943. Sir George pointed out that in that address Mr. Anthony Eden had stated:
“From time to time our enemies suggest, either to China or to ourselves, that Great Britain does not wish to see China strong.
“Such suggestions are no doubt intended to be mischievous.
“They are, in fact, ludicrous, and I am sure that our Chinese friends are the first to resent them.
“The truth is that the interest of the British Empire has always lain in the existence of a strong and united China.
“So it has been in the past, so it will be in the future.
“Without a strong and united China there is no prospect of lasting stability in the Far East.”
(Copies of the speech have already been circulated in the Department.)
Sir George said that he hoped from time to time to bring to my attention items of information of interest.