Minute from John A. Belton to Liam Cosgrave (Dublin)

The position in regard to the Formosan Government is that we recognised the Government of Chang Kai-Shek when he held the Chinese mainland and we have never since either expressly or impliedly taken any action to indicate cesser of that recognition.

The reasons for the present approach through Archbishop Riberi¹ are fairly obvious. The establishment of diplomatic relations with the Formosan Government would be of considerable prestige and propaganda value to them and would presumably in their eyes copperfasten our support at the United Nations. You will recall that Mr. Cordier,² when in Dublin, stated that the question of the admission of Red China would again be a live issue at the Credentials Committee of the Assembly. He was of opinion that, whilst Red China would receive more support than last year, it would again be defeated and the question would not come before the Assembly but would be postponed to the Credentials Committee meeting next year. If it did go to the Assembly we would presumably vote against Red China. The pressing desire of the Formosan Government for our support is clear from their willingness to send an envoy to Dublin even if, for financial or other reasons, we did not reciprocate by sending an envoy to Taipei.

The question of having a representative in the Far East has been under consideration and the Taoiseach in his speech on the Estimates referred to it.³ I feel that if we ever were to reach that stage, Formosa would not be our choice of locale.

The Formosan envoy to Dublin would, according to Archbishop Riberi’s letter, serve as a liaison between the two Governments. It is very difficult from our point of view to see any reason whatever for such liaison and it would be an invidious task to explain to the world why, at this particular time, we accepted the invitation to establish diplomatic relations. For these reasons, it seems to me that the answer to Archbishop Riberi must be a polite no. A reply to the effect that the Irish Government has the question of diplomatic representation in the Far East under consideration and that the present approach of the Republic of China will be borne in mind in that connection should, I think, meet the case. If you agree, I will prepare the necessary draft.⁴