Britain to vote for China in U.N.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32663, 20 July 1971, Page 13

Britain to vote for China in U.N.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, July 19. Britain has advised the Nixon Administration that it will votQ without reservation for China’s admission to the United Nations regardless of what the United States may do.

United States officials, who disclosed this yesterday said that the Government of Mi Edward Heath also had made clear it no longer would support any resolution, or device, designed to bar Peking from taking over China’s seat in the Security Council and General Assembly.

The British move came| some time before the events leading to . President Nixon’s acceptance of the invitation of the Chinese Prime Minister (Mr Chou En-lai), to visit China. • It seems certain nevertheless to have influenced the way the Nixon Administration proposes to handle the question of Chinese representation when it comes before the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly in the autumn.

This is because other nations—like Canada —are likely to-follow the British lead. The United States, therefore, would be risking almost sure defeat in the world body if it were to try, yet again, to block Peking from replacing Taiwan as the occupant of the China seat. As of now the formal American position, as defined by the President is to support Peking’s admission but not at Taiwan’s expense. But in the light of the visit of the Presidential adviser,

I Dr Henry Kissinger, to Peking a new statement of United States policy on the issue is being prepared and will be announced soon. Informants reported the Heath Government’s decision is likely to be followed by other developments: Britain’s lone consul in Tamsui, a Taiwan province, will be withdrawn before the end of the year. Britain and China will establish full diplomatic relations, meaning an exchange of ambassadors, for the first time since London recognised the People’s Republic in January, 1950.

The British and Chinese are now represented in each other’s capitals by charges d’affaires. The Chinese have refused to exchange ambassadors, i until the British, first, withidrew their consul from TaiIwan, and, second, unreser- | vedly backed Peking’s admission, in place of Taiwan, to I the United Nations.