Editorial Note
British Prime Minister Clement Attlee and President Truman held discussions in Washington between December 4 and 8, 1950, dealing with a wide range of topics but principally the Far East. For the most part the discussions related to Korea, but the question of China was also taken up. For documentation on the Far Eastern matters, see volume VII, pages 1237 ff.; the talks as a whole are scheduled for publication in volume III. That portion of the joint communiqué issued on December 8 by Prime Minister Attlee and President Truman dealing with Formosa reads as follows:
“On the question of Formosa, we have noted that both Chinese claimants have insisted upon the validity of the Cairo Declaration and have expressed reluctance to have the matter considered by the United Nations. We agree that the issues should be settled by peaceful means and in such a way as to safeguard the interests of the people of Formosa and the maintenance of peace and security in the Pacific, and that consideration of this question by the United Nations will contribute to these ends.” (Department of State Bulletin, December 18, 1950, page 960)