Evening star., 1950-01-12
U. 5. Is Seen Required
By Circumstances 10
Recognize China Reds
Administrations Stond
In Post Viewed as Likely
To Make Move Difficult
By David Laurence

Emotional prejudices on the
subject Of communism, which
have been fed to no small extent
by official utterances in the last
few years, may now rise to plague
the Truman administration as it
faces the necessity for recognizing
the Communist government in
China.
For all the plain facts of inter-
national custom point to the
requirement that a government
which has obtained military con-
troll of a nation is entitled to
recognition from other govern
ments.
Unfortunately the mere act of
recognition has been given
significance in the last 40 years
that it never had before. 1t be-
gan with the wholesome and
idealistic purpose of the Ameri-
can Government during the ad-
ministration Of President Wilson
to discourage violence as means
of choosing rulers in Latin Amer
lea. But as the policy evolved,
even though it had for a time the
backing of Charles Evans Hughes
as Secretary of State under a Re-
publican administration, the idea
came to be regarded as means
of influencing the internal affairs
of another country and was made
the basis of anti-American feel
ing.
Moscow Recognized.
Today the United States Gov
ernment recognizes and deals
with the Communist government
In Moscow. Just why there should
be any hesitancy to extend recog-
milton to the Chinese government
because it Is under communistic
influence would seem to be mex
plicable on any basis of logic. The
truth Is that the sympathizers Of
the Nationalist government in
China wish to use the American
policy as a means Of getting mil
itary assistance and thus aid in
the military battle against the
Communist government in China.
This. on its face, means in
volvement in the internal affairs
of China. The argument usually
offered in support Of continued
Intervention and aid to the
Chiarg faction is that the United
States took a similar position in
respect to Greece and Turkey.
From a strictly legal standpoint,
however. there Is no such parallel.
Actually, the government of Tur-
key Is a fully constituted regime,
and, whenever a recognized gov
ernment asks for an alliance or
assistance, it cannot be called In
tervention in internal affairs.
In Greece there was a civil war.
and American military assistance
there was plainly an Intervention.
But military aid to the guerrillas
was being extended by an outside
government-Russia. Here also
considerations Of military strategy
affecting the safety Of recognized
governments in the Near East
came into play. It was the inter-
national rather than the internal.
phase which brought America into
the picture. Likewise. when aid
was extended, the Greek govern
ment was a recognized regime and
did control the major part Of the
country.
NationaIists Defeated.
There Is no doubt that II the
United States had come to the
conclusion two years ago that
Russia was going to capture i'm
portant bases In China and was
playing a controlling part In the
civil war, military aid on q wide
scale from this country would have
been In line with the policy
adopted In Greece.
Today, however. the Chinese
Nationalists have been defeated
and the Communists control most
of China. Furthermore, there is
no evidence that any large-scale
help has been given by the Rus
slams to the Communists. In fact,
there are reasons for believing that
the Chinese Communist move
ment eventually may break away
from the Russians and furnish
another Tito.
Recognition Of governments In
the world Of today embodies a
means Of communication between
governments. There is more op-
portunity to influence the future
course Of q government by ex-
changing ambassadors than by
adopting course of non-recogni-
ton in which two major govern
menst folishly determine not even
to speak to each other.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.