Evening star., 1950-01-07
Recognizing Peiping

Recognizing Peipins
Now that Great Britain has Joined India,
Pakistan, Burma, Yugoslavia, the Soviet
Union and the Red satellite states In ex-
tending full recognition to the Chinese
Communists at Peiping, most Of the rest
Of the world can be expected to do the
same In fairly rapid order. As far as our
own country is concerned, this means that
We may soon find ourselves standing alone
in continuing to maintain relations with
Generalissimo Chang and what is left of
his Nationalist regime on Formosa-a kind
OF lone wolf position which we are almost
certain to md pretty untenable as time
wears on.
The major reality that has led to
Britain's decision is simply this: That the
Communists are in effective control of the
entire mainland while Chang and his
Enthusiastically reduced to the
status Of refugees on an island 100 miles
OF the country's southeast coast-hate
lost all de facto power to exercise authority
over China's 46o,000,0oo people. Although
some may argue that the British should
have moved more slowly in this matter,
they apparently have been governed by
the Judgment that delay would be of no
help to them in their effort to protect
their own interests. Those interests are
anything but small. In addition to Hong
Kong, they include investments amounting
to more than billion dollars in a wide
variety Of Chinese enterprises. In fact,
economically speaking, their stake over
there is much greater than that of any
other Western nation.
Britain, Of course, is not naive. In
thinking Of its Chinese interests and It's
future relations with Peiping's Reds, it Is
keeping its fingers crossed. In its note of
recognition, it has been at pains to en-
phasize that 1t expects those relations to
be carried out ION q basis OF equality,
mutual benefit and mutual respect for
territory and sovereignty" but it Is fully
aware that this expectation may not be
fulfilled. In the words Of Foreign Under
secretary Mayhem, the British have no
illusions about their decision to deal with
Mao Tze-tung. They think 1t may be of
some commercial help to them, but they
anticipate no "big or immediate advan-
tages" from it, and they have arrived at
1t only because Of conviction that moth
ing would be gained by boycotting in
definitely government ruling over vast
territory and population" Above ALL they
have made clear that in recognizing Red
China, they have not approved its policies
and practices; they have simply acknowl-
edged that 1t exists as IN effective power.
The same sort Of reasoning undoubtedly
motivates the numerous other non-soviet
countries now getting ready to recognize
Peiping. The deciding factor Is realism
and expediency, not morals or sentiment.
The independent governments that have
full diplomatic relations with Russia and
all the satellite ~dictatorships are being
guided by what they regard as the hard
actualities Of the situation. In extending
recognition to- Communist China, their
approval is not implied. As they have done
In recognizing other totalitarian regimes,
they are merely acting III accord with the
fact that the Chinese, Reds are in real
control OF huge nation and that there
is as much reason to deal with them as
with any other ruling group behind the
Iron Curtain.
AS for ourselves, it is question whether
we can hold out indefinitely against
Peiping. Certainly, II practically every
other country in the world recognizes
Red China, we are going to be hard put
to keep on ignoring 1t as If it did not
exist The day is soon coming, for example,
when 1t will demand to be seated as a
member Of the United Nations Security
Councils demand which we can veto,
but which will be difficult to veto If all
the other members are for it. Further,
we must ask ourselves how we and our
non-soviet friends abroad can work to-
gether in formulating q sound Asiatic
policy II We insist on recognizing Chang
while they recognize Mao Tze-tung.
Thus although there are plenty Of
reasons why we should take our time about
establishing relations with Peiping, the
chances are that eventually-perhap
sooner than later-the realities of the sit
uation viii oblige US to get in step with
the great majority Of nations. What has
happened In China is tragic, and 1t has
ominous possibilities In terms Of the free
worlds strategic position vis-a-vis Russia,
but 1t cannot be altered at this stage. In
all probability, the Chinese Communists
Will be In power for years to come. In the
circumstances, 1t Is extremely doubtful
that we can gain much from protracted
policy Of non-recognition. What Is, is:
we cannot wish or ignore 1t away.
Dr.. Isoioh Bowmun
Whether one thinks Of DR.. Isaiah Bow
man as a geographer, a conservationist,
an educator or Government counselor he
looms large. 1t was in the study of the
earth as dwelling place of man as a