Chiang Kai-shek’s Diplomats Abroad
Ambassador Fu Bingchang’s perspective at the first United Nations Peace Conference in 1946 with reference to the ‘Iran Crisis’
abstract
On 21 December 1945 General Chiang Kai-shek authorised Fu Bingchang, his ambassador in Moscow, to attend the forthcoming 1946 UN Peace Conference in London. Two weeks later, after Fu advised Stalin that he was to attend the conference, Stalin asked Fu to liaise with his leading delegate, A.J. Vyshinsky, and stated further that if the Chinese delegates would cooperate it would be advantageous for both countries. To Fu, the undertone was obvious. Keen to keep Soviet support for Chiang Kai-shek’s government on the eve of China’s civil war, and the emerging Cold War, Fu had every intention of taking Stalin’s advice seriously. But when Iran filed a complaint to the UN accusing the Soviets of continuing their troop presence in Iran as an excuse to meddle in Iran’s internal affairs, the Chinese delegation faced a terrible dilemma. Using new and previously unseen records this conference paper uncovers, from a Chinese perspective, behind-the-scenes negotiating between the US, Soviet and Chinese delegates concerning Iran’s situation at the first UN Peace Conference.
Keywords: Chiang Kai-shek • Fu Bingchang • United Nations Peace Conference • Foo Pingsheung • Iran Crisis
permalink: http://doi.org/10.14277/6969-126-3/SV-4-4