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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 22, No. 1. March 2, 1959

[Introduction]

One of the most extraordinary documents to blossom forth from the United States Department of State in recent months is a little blue propaganda sheet titled "Why the U.S. Does Not Recognise Communist China." Containing more sophisms and fanciful arguments than the normal Dulles publication, this must rate as a most highly-inspired book in Dulles' foreign policy bible.

My first discovery upon reading it was that the Americans make no attempt to base their conduct upon a principle of some sort, however dubious it might be, but are honest enough to admit that national interests and expediency are at the base of it.

". . . the policy of the United States Government," I read, "towards Red China has necessarily been based on objective considerations of national interest." Elsewhere—"recognition would produce no tangible benefits to the United States or to the free world as a whole."

All along I have suspected that American imperialism and "spheres of influence" diplomacy is the real reason why the U.S. refuses to recognise Communist China. Now the Americans have themselves admitted it. Surely the conclusion that recognition is contrary to Western interests is naive.

Such a solid Tory as Sir Clifton Webb, former National Government Attorney-General and Minister of External Affairs, can see no sense in this point of view. In a letter to "The Dominion" on December 16th last he wrote:

"Moreover, putting aside Red China's rights, it has always seemed to me to be against the Western nations' own self interest to cold-shoulder the Chinese Communist regime, thereby driving them more firmly into the arms of Russia and creating a solid block of Communism from the Baltic to the Pacific. I believe there was a time when we had a chance of driving a wedge between Russia and Red China."

Sir Clifton also said categorically that the non-admission of Communist Chinese representatives to the United Nations was preventing the easing of international tension.