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Calvin Political Science Club, Grand Rapids, MI, October 24, 1956
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Calvin Political Science Club, Grand Rapids, MI, October 24, 1956
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D15, folder "Calvin Political Science Club,
Grand Rapids, MI, October 24, 1956" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary
and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D15 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Remarks by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, Jr.,
at Calvin Political Science Club
Grand Rapids, Michigan.
October 24, 1956
The United States Should Not Recognize Red Ohina
Nor Favor its Admission to the United Nations.
1 - Responsibility for Action
A. Recognition of a foreign government is
the responsibility of the Executive branch
of the government, specifically the President
and his Secretary of State.
B. Admission to the United Nations can come
by action of either the Security Council
or the General Assembly.
2 - Procedure for Recognition and Admission
A. Recognition is by an exchange of Ambassadors
which requires appointment of an American
Envoy by the President and approval of
the nominee by the Senate.
B. Admission to the United Nations
1) By the Security Council
a) It would require seven "Yes" votes
out of a possible eleven.
b) Should this proposal receive at least
7 votes, it could be vetood by any
one of the five permanent members of
the Council.
2) By the General Assembly
a) Would require a 2/3 majority out of
the 76 members
b) No veto is possible
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Page 2
III Criteria for Judging
A. We recognize the fact that a Communist
group holds the country of China in
subjection.
1. This does not mean that this group has
a legal right to rule China.
2. It does not mean that we must give
moral approval to this Communist grab,
nor condone their policies and tactios.
B. Recognition of a government implies approval.
1. It gives that government "status" in
the eyes of others.
2. In this case it would in effect say
to the world that we approve of the
policies, strategy, and tactics of the
atheistic Communists, especially if
they are successful.
C. Admission to the U.N. should be reserved only
for those who satisfy the requirements for
membership.
1. There is nothing in the U.N. Charter
that says a seat must be given to a
government merely because it controls
a nation.
2. Secretary Dulles pointed out in the
Cypress Conference in July, 1954, that
in San Francisco in 1945, there was
much discussion on whether UN membership
should be open to any government, or
whether membership should be on a selective
basis. "The proponents of selectivity won."
3. Charter Qualifications.
a) Peace-loving nation
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
3
b) Independent governments (not a puppet)
e) Pledged to the promotion, achievement
and preservation of "human rights and
fundamental freedoms."
d) To promote international good will
and cooperation.
IV Qualifications of Red China
A. Not a peace-loving nation.
1) General Assembly Resolution of February 1,
1951, condemned Red China for aggression
in Korea.
2) General Assembly Resolution of May 18, 1951
recommended each member apply a strategic
embargo against China.
3) Presently harrassing Formosa, Korea and
other border states.
B. Is an acknowledged satellite and puppet of
Soviet Russia.
1) Mao has proolaimed that his thinking and
theories are nothing but "a creative
development of Stalin's thinking."
2) Russia engineered the Chinese Communist
conquest of China mainland. Russia
supplied arms, money, direction.
3) Mao visits and works with Moscow.
C. Red China denies to its people those "human
rights and fundamental freedoms" pledged by
the UN Charter.
1) Communist government achieved and maintains
power by force, not consent.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Page 4
2) Mass murder in China, both unofficial
and official by the "People's Courts"
is a well known fact to Americans.
3) Chinese people have no right to vote,
to speak freely, nor even to think indepently.
dently.
D. Red China continues to promote international
unrest.
1) Today, 10 American citizens are still
being held as political hostages in
flagrant violation of Communists public
promise of September 10, 1955.
2) Red Chinese government is deliberately
pipelining into other parts of Asia and
the United States, the two most malignant
habit-forming drugs now known - heroin
and hiropon.
a) To create funds to pay off loan from
Russia and help finance Communist
propoganda.
b) To demoralize human beings in non-Com-
munist countries.
V. Official American attitude.
a. On 14 occasions since 1948, the Congress of the
United States has officially expressed its
opinion that the Chinese Communists are not
entitled to and should not be recognized to
represent China in the United Nations (See
attached Report of Committee on Foreign Affairs)
B. On July 18, 1956, the House of Representatives
unanimously (391-0) passed a resolution opposing
the admission of Red China to the UN. (See
attached copy)
C. President Eisenhower has repeatedly expressed
opposition to the admission of this atheistic
Communistic regime to the UN.
GERALD FORD NETARY
Page 5
VI. No recognition or admission is warranted.
A. Not legally qualified under Charter.
B. Not morally entitled to recognition.
C. To recognize and admit would be to give
green light for Communist tactics and
policies.
D. To do so would mean the repudiation
of the heroic Chinese Nationalists who
under Christian leadership of Chiang K1 Shek
remain a potent force of the free world
in the Far East. To sell out Chisag
would be unmoral, unfair, and most foolish.
E. To admit Red China to the United Nations
would give her strong grounds for insisting
on a permanent seat on the Security Council
as the recognized Chinese Government.
1) This would give Communists 2 members with
the veto power.
2) It would destroy effectiveness and
possibly the existence of the United
Nations.
FORD is LIBRARY CERALD