Extracts from a memorandum by Sheila Murphy
'Agenda Item 3: United Nations General Assembly XI Session'

Question of the representation of China which will be raised by the Soviet Delegation on the appointment of a Credentials Committee.

[matter omitted]

5. Although Ireland has not withdrawn recognition from the Chiang Kai-Shek Government, it has been our settled policy to instruct Irish delegates to the conferences of international technical organisations to abstain from voting on the question of Chinese representation. This policy was adopted at a time when Irish missionaries were still working on the Chinese mainland and it was feared that a vote against Peking would prejudice their position. On several occasions the Ambassador at Washington has so explained our policy in reply to requests by the Chinese Ambassador for support for his Government at international conferences. The policy has not been varied though the last Irish missionary was excluded from Communist China last year.
6. Our logical course, therefore, would be to abstain on the anticipated US motion in the General Assembly. No doubt the Permanent Mission will be able to ascertain beforehand whether any of the Western European or Commonwealth countries included amongst the 42 ‘ayes’ last year are likely to adopt a policy of abstention this year (e.g. Belgium, France, Greece, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and, similarly as regards the intentions of the new Western European members. If not, the advisability of our voting for the US motion would require consideration. The vote on Chinese representation is likely to receive wide publicity and public opinion here (and amongst the Irish-American population) might well be critical of our association with such States as Yemen and Afghanistan to the exclusion of any Western countries.