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FOREIGN OFFICE FILES FOR CHINA, 1949-1976
(Public Record Office Class FO 371 and FCO 21)
Part 2: Complete Files for 1950 (PRO Class FO 371/83230-83579)
Brief Chronology
1919
The Paris Peace Conference grants former German concessions in China to Japan, causing much Chinese resentment. 3,000 students demonstrates in Peking (May Fourth Movement) against the Paris Peace Treaty and Japanese claims in China. Sun Yat-sen reorganise the Kuomingtang in opposition to the government
1921
The Chinese Communist Party is founded at a national Conference in Shanghai
1923
Soviet Union promises to aid the Kuomintang’s cause of Chinese unification
1925
Sun Yat-sen dies and is replaced by Chiang Kai-shek as leader of the Kuomintang. In the summer Chiang embarks upon the Northern Expedition against northern warlords (campaign ends 1927). A 15 month strike and boycott of foreign trade in Hong Kong is begun
1926
Split develops within the Kuomintang between left- and right-wing factions. In March Chiang expels his Soviet advisors and restricts the role of Communists within the Kuomintang
1927
The rift within the Kuomintang widens as the Communists set up their own at Nanking. April witnesses a massacre of Communists in /Shanghai as Chiang purges leftists from the Kuomintang
Communists expelled from Wuhan by Kuomintang
1928
Chiang Kai-shek becomes President of Republic of China and is in effective control of most of the country
1931
Mukden Incident (bombing of Japanese run railway in Manchuria)
1932
Mukdon Incident used as excuse by Japanese to create puppet state of Manchukuo
1934
Communists in Kiangsi Provence, under pressure from Nationalists, forced to undertake the Long March to Yenan
1935
Japanese begin to expand borders of Manchukuo southwards
1936
Nationalists troops mutiny at Xi’an. Japanese expansion in China leads to truce between Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang
1937
Fullscale fighting begins between Chinese and Japanese forces; resulting in the announcement of a Communist-Nationalist ant-Japanese front. Kuomintang forced to retreat to Chungking. December sees Nanking fall to Japanese troops who massacre 100,000 Chinese
1938
Japanese proclaim a ‘New Order’ in China to be headed by the Japanese military
1941
Japanese attack American naval forces in Pearl Harbor, bringing USA into World War Two
1943
Britain and America revise their treaties with China. Chiang Kai-shek meets with Roosevelt and Churchill in Cairo to discuss strategy. The resulting Cairo Declaration announces “that all the territories that Japan has stolen from the Chinese such as Manchuria, Formosa and the Pescadores shall be restored to the Republic of China”
1944
Allies begin to decisively turn the tide of the war against Japan. Japanese forces launch counter-offensive and advance into south-west China to attack US airbases
1945
Potsdam Proclamation calls on Japan to surrender. US drops atomic bombs on Japan, whilst Soviet forces invade Manchuria. Chiang Kai-shek reaches an agreement with the USSR, confirming their territorial gains in China. Japan surrenders 15 August. Chiang gains seat at UN Security Council for China. Fighting begins between Communists and Nationalist troops in Manchuria. General Marshall arrives in China to halt civil war between Chinese Communists and Nationalists
1946
General Marshall succeeds in negotiating a truce between warring parties in Manchuria; but truce between Communists and Nationalists soon breaks down and fighting resumes in Manchuria. US suspends aid to the Nationalists in attempt to end the fighting
1947
General Marshall leaves China. Formosan revolt against corrupt Chinese rule. US announces resumption of aid to the Nationalists
1948
January
British Consulate at Canton destroyed
February
President Truman announces that the US will provide $570 million worth of aid to China
Communist People’s Republic declared in North Korea
Communists capture Manchurian port of Yingk’ou
March
Communist forces in Manchuria capture the strategic railway junctions of Kirin and Ssupingkai
May
Dr Wong Wen-hao succeeds Chang Ch’un as Nationalist Premier
August
Nationalist Navy received a gift of two British warships Republic of South Korea declared
September
Tsinan falls to Communists
Communists launch a major offensive in Manchuria
October
Mukden falls to the Communists, who soon extend their control over all of Manchuria
November
Dr Wong Wen-hao resigns as Nationalist Premier
December
The remnants of the Nationalists forces regroup and attempt to hold a defensive line behind along the Yangtze River
Madame Chiang Kai-shek visits the US to appeal for further aid
Dr Sun Fo becomes Premier of Nationalist government
1949
January
Communist forces take Peking
Chiang Kai-shek ‘retires’ as President and is replaced by General Li-Tsung-jen as ‘Acting President’
All personnel of the US Army Advisory Group leave Canton for the USA
February
Nationalist government announces that it will move the seat of government from Nanking to Canton
March
Nationalist Premier Dr Sun Fo resigns, he is succeeded by General Ho Ying Chin
Establishment of the Central Plains Provisional People’s Government by Communists in central China
April
Communists present their Eight Point Peace proposals to a Nationalist delegation visiting Peking
Communist forces cross the Yangtze River
HMS Amethyst attacked in Yangtze River by Communist forces
Communist troops enter Nanking
May
Communists capture Shanghai and Hankow
Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang Party organization move to Formosa
June
Conference held to try to patch-up split in Kuomintang between Chiang Kai-shek and Li Tsung-jen
Communists announce that a Political Consultative Conference is to be convened in Peking to frame the future constitution and government of China
July
Communists launch offensive against Nationalist held areas in central China
August
US stops aid to Nationalists
Chiang Kai-shek visits Seoul to discuss Pacific Anti-Communist Union with South Korean President Soviets test their first nuclear device
September
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference convened
October
Mao elected Chairman of the National Committee of the People’s Republic of China officially proclaimed Nationalist government evacuated from Canton to Chungking
Amoy falls to the Communists
American Consul-General at Mukden and four members of his staff arrested by Communists
USSR is the first country to officially recognize the new regime
December
UK government decides in principle to accord de jure recognition to the government of the People’s Republic of Chjna
Chiang Kai-shek declares Taipei the temporary capitl of China
1950
January
Peking-Hankow Railway reopened
United Kingdom recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China
Soviets boycott UN Security Council in protest at refusal to admit PRC and continued presence of Taiwan
China recognizes newly established Democratic Republic of Vietnam
February
PRC and USR sign Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance
People’s Liberation Army enters Kunmung were remnants of Kuomingang forces are still holding out
March
Construction of the Paochi-Chengtu Railway resumed
People’s Liberation Army enters Sichang where remnants of Kuomintang forces are still holding out
April
Trade agreement signed with the USSR
June
Construction of the Chungking-Chengtu Railway begins
North Korean forces cross the 38th Parallel and invade the South
US Seventh Fleet sent to protect Taiwan from possible PRC invasion
Truman announces intention of US to send forces to Korea in response to UN’s ‘Uniting for Peace’ resolution regarding Korea
Agrarian Reform Law passed to redistribute land
July
Mao declares PRC’s foreign policy of “leaning to one side”
US troops arrive in Korea
General MacArthur visits Chiang Kai-shek in Formosa/Taiwan
September
UN forces under MacArthur, land at Inchon, Korea
UN forces capture Seoul
Chou En-lai warns UN forces not to invade North Korea
UN forces cross the 38th parallel into North Korea
October
First anniversary of establishment of PRC
PRC Foreign Secretary, Chou En-lai, warns the Indian Ambassador that “China will not stand idly by” if UN forces cross the 38th Parallel
Mao calls for Chinese People’s Volunteer Army to oppose UN forces in Korea
Pyongyang falls to UN forces
Chinese troops invade/’liberate’ Tibet
200,000 Chinese ‘volunteers’ cross into Korea to help North Korean forces fighting UN coalition.
November
British Vice-Consul in Mukden is expelled for “obstruction” of Chinese troops
Existence of formations of Chinese volunteers fighting in Korea is announced in Chinese press
PRC DELEGATION, HEADED BY Wu Hsiu-chuan, arrives at UN to participate in debate on Formosa, and to discuss events in Korea. PRC delegation states that the only terms acceptable to the PRC Government for ending the Korean conflict are: the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Korea, the assumption of the Chinese seat at the UN by the PRC and the withdrawal of all US forces from Formosa
British Chargé d’Affaires in China delivers message from the Secretary of State, telling the PRC Government that the UN has no aggressive intentions towards China and recognizes the PRC’s legitimate interests in Korea
Chinese troops force back UN forces in Korea; US 10th Corps is cut off and has to be evacuated by sea
USSR vetoes anti-Chinese resolution at UN;
President Truman announces there has been “active consideration” of use of nuclear weapons in Korea.
December
PRC’s Minister for Foreign Affairs issues a statement warning that a Japanese Peace Treaty concluded without Chinese participation would be illegal
Chinese and North Korean forces capture Pyongyang
US ends all trade with China; Truman assures Attlee that nuclear weapons will not be used in Korea
United States freezes all Chinese assets in America, and imposes an economic embargo on the PRC. Chinese Government swiftly retaliates with similar measures against the USA
PRC Government rejects UN cease-fire proposals and reiterates the terms put forward by Mr Wu
1951
January
Chinese forces cross the 38th parallel into South Korea
Chinese forces capture Seoul
Her Majesty’s Consulate General at Tihwa (Urumchi) forcibly closed and staff expelled for alleged espionage
Her Majesty’s Government votes in favour of a UN resolution declaring China an aggressor
February
Proposals and counter-proposals are exchanged between the UN and China regarding cease-fire in Korea. These are unproductive and China is declared an aggressor by the UN General Assembly
Chou En-lai declares resolution ‘illegal’, increasing tensions between the PRC and the UN
April
General Douglas MacArthur, UN commander in Korea, makes unauthorised comments on the crisis, including calls for military action against China. He is sacked by Truman
The Shell Oil Company’s installations in China are requisitioned
A Tibetan delegation arrives in Peking to discuss Tibet’s status with the Central People’s Government
May
An agreement is signed between the Tibetan delegation and the CPG effectively handing control of the region to China
July
China agrees to begin negotiations for a cease-fire in Korea
Three American oil companies in China are requisitioned – Standard Oil, Caltex and Cathay
September
San Francisco Conference, without USSR or Communist China, leads to peace treaty with Japan
The UK sponsors the Japanese Peace Treaty, which is seen by the PRC as a display of hostility to the Chinese
October
Telegram from Dalai Lama to Mao Tse-tung formally approves the Agreement between Tibet and China
December
China’s occupation of Tibet is effectively completed with the announcement by the People’s Liberation Army that they have completed their ‘task’ there; the Panchen Lama, who is now a puppet of the Chinese government, starts on his way back to Tibet, where he has never been in his present incarnation. He is not expected to further the cause of Tibetan independence
1952
January
Following Winston Churchill’s speech to the US Congress, Chinese propaganda shows United kingdom as a puppet of the American government. China appears to mainly object to Churchill welcoming the protection of anti-Communist Chinese in Formosa
February
The second anniversary of the Sino-Soviet Treaty is celebrated in Peking with dinners, parties and speeches by key figures of the PRC and Soviet Union. In his address, Chou En-lai refers to the possibility of a settlement over Korea, if the United States shows as sincere a desire for peace as China
The “oppose” corruption, waster and bureaucracy” campaign continues in earnest inside China. Public trials of suspected “arch corrupt elements” within Chinese government are carried out under Minister of Finance
Korea and China accuse US forces of dropping bacteria over Korea and North East China
March
Chou En-lai issues further statement accusing US of spreading disease in Korea, over-flying Manchuria and dropping germ-laden insects there
The Australian government refuses to grant visas to a party of Chinese scouts wishing to attend the Carnival of Peace and Friendship in Sydney. This is called a shameful, unreasonable and arbitrary measure by Chinese authorities
April
The conditions for foreign traders deteriorates in China.
Entry and exit permits for foreign personnel are difficult to obtain, contracts entered into by Chinese Government organizations are cancelled without compensation, and discriminatory and heavy taxation is imposed
Representations are made by British forms to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlining difficulties and concerns that British forms are being eliminated from China
May
The Japanese Peace Treaty is condemned by Chou En-lai and he appeals to the Japanese to resist its implementation
May Day celebrations in Peking are used by CPG to demonstrate the “peacefulness and happiness” of China
First anniversary of the “liberation” of Tibet is marked by exchange of messages between the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and Mao Tse-Tung
June
Preparations are made for the Asian Peace Conference in Peking. A manifesto is produced and issues to be discussed include the remilitarisation of Japan and the settlement of the Korean question
July
Central People’s Government declares recognition of the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1925 Protocol banning use of gas and bacteriological warfare, with reservations
August
Chou En-lai visits Moscow with a delegation of senior economic and military officials.
British owned dockyards in Shanghai are requisitioned “in the interests of the Chinese pubic”
September
Results of negotiations between China and Russia are published and include the transfer of Russian rights to Changchun railway to China. It is also agreed to postpone the USSR’s withdrawal from Port Arthur until peace treaties are agreed between Japan and China and Japan and USSR
October
Asian Peace Conference opens and reflects Communist policy on matters relating to Japan and Korea
November
British Utility Companies in Shanghai – Water Works, Gas Company and Tramways – are requisitioned by Chinese authorities
December
The UN adopts a proposal from India regarding the handling of prisoners of war from Korea. The basis for an armistice is also put forward, but is rejected by China
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