The following statement by Dr. Evatt was released today 25th at 7
p.m.

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

There was declared in Peking on October 1st the Central People's
Government of the People's Republic of China. The Australian
Ambassador, along with other foreign representatives, then
received a communication from the newly-established Government
requesting recognition of the People's Republic as the only legal
government in China.

Arrangements have been made that any action taken in the matter
will be concerted by Australia with the United Kingdom and the
United States of America.

As Mr. Acheson, the Secretary of State of the United States
Government has indicated, the democratic countries must be assured
that-
(i) the Government which was set up on 1st October is, in fact, in
control of the area it claims;

(ii) it is, in fact, prepared to and capable of carrying out its
international obligations; and
(iii) it is a government supported by the free will of the
majority of the peoples it rules.

Definite and convincing answers to all these questions are
required before the question of recognition can be resolved. I
make it quite clear to everyone that the United Kingdom, the
United States and Australia are in complete accord in their
attitude toward the new Government. We certainly wish to maintain
the friendly relations with the people of China. But in the
absence, however, of firm and specific assurances that the
territorial integrity of neighbouring countries, notably Hong
Kong, will be respected and that the new China will carry out all
its international obligations, recognition cannot be granted any
more than admission to the United Nations could be granted.