Memorandum and minute from Sheila Murphy to Eoin MacWhite (Dublin)

The Rev. Aidan McGrath, of St. Columban’s Mission, called a few days ago to inquire as to Ireland’s position with regard to the recognition of the Chinese Nationalist Government in Formosa.

Fr. McGrath has been working in Formosa since 1950 (following his expulsion from China) where he is attached to the Archdiocese of Taipeh as Chaplain to the foreign community. He was sent there by his Superiors at the request of the Vatican representative in Hong Kong and is the only Columban father in Formosa.

I told Fr. McGrath, basing myself on the recent circular to the Missions abroad, that Ireland did not recognise either of the Chinese régimes. I asked him if our non-recognition of Formosa led to difficulties in his case. He said not materially, only to a few days’ delay in obtaining entry and exit permits. But he added that the Foreign Office did not understand our position and that Mr. Loo, Head of the European Dept., had asked him, when home in Ireland on leave, to make inquiries about it. Mr. Loo told him that after the war his Government had sent a communication to the Irish Government to which they had received no reply. Fr. McGrath believes that all countries which have not recognised the Peking régime automatically recognise the Formosa régime as the legitimate successor of the Chiang Kai-Shek¹ government of 20 or 30 ago years and that no question of re-recognition has arisen.

Dr. MacWhite,

With reference to the above memo, would you please see if in fact we received a communication from the Chinese Nationalist Government in the post-war years.

We must also check on the question of re-recognition by other powers of the Chiang Kai-Shek régime. I think there is no question that we recognised it in the League of Nations period when Sino-Japanese relations was one of the main problems (Japanese invasion of Manchuria etc.) and, as far as I know, we never withdrew recognition. It may be correct to say that we do not recognise the Formosa régime, but there is nothing on the file containing the circular to the Missions to show how that conclusion was arrived at.