British note recognising the People’s Republic of China

←

British note formally recognising the People's Republic of China (1950)
Government of the United Kingdom

→

This is the text of the note by which the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognised the Government of the People's Republic of China as the legal government of China. The note was delivered at 6am on 6 January 1950 in Peking (Beijing). Upon delivering the note, the British also informed the PRC Government that it had withdrawn recognition from the Government of the Republic of China. The Republic of China's ambassador in London, Dr. Cheng Tien-hsi, had been informed of the withdrawal of British recognition from his Government on 5 January 1950. The text is as reported in The Times’ edition of 7 January 1950

503128British note formally recognising the People's Republic of China1950Government of the United Kingdom

To: Mr. Chou En-lai, The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

I have the honour to inform your Excellency that his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, having completed their study of the situation resulting from the formation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, and observing that it is now in effective control of by far the greater part of the territory of China, have this day recognized that Government as the de jure Government of China.

In these circumstances his Majesty's Government, in response to Chairman Mao Tse-tung's proclamation of October 1, 1949, are ready to establish diplomatic relations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect for territory and sovereignty, and are prepared to exchange diplomatic representatives with the Central People's Government. Pending the appointment of an ambassador, Mr. J. C. Hutchison has been nominated as his Majesty's Charge d'Affaires ad interim.

Accordingly I have the honour to request that you will receive him and transact official business with him in that capacity, and further that he may be granted all necessary facilities for the transfer of himself, his staff; and the archives of his Majesty's Embassy from Nanking to Peking.

(Signed) ERNEST BEVIN, his Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.