Trend Reversed

When Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek fled from the mainland to Formosa in 1949, only four diplomatic missions followed him--the U.S., the Philippines. Korea and France. Since then, though there has been a constant clamor to oust Chiang and to seat Communist China in the U.N., only 18 non-Communist nations have recognized the Red regime in Peking. But 44 nations have diplomatic relations with Nationalist China, and where there were four embassies in Chiang's capital of Taipei in 1949, there are now 16. The last major nation to switch recognition from Chiang to the Reds was Egypt, which did so in May 1956 during Nasser's early flirtation with the Communists. In the last two months the Nationalists have won recognition from three previously uncommitted nations--Jordan. Liberia and Paraguay--hope to add a couple of others soon.

Until this year, except for U.S. political and military brass, only South Korea's Syngman Rhee among foreign leaders had visited Formosa to call on Chiang. But in June. Japan's Premier Nobusuke Kishi, ignoring wails from his political opponents, included Formosa in his tour of Southwest Asia, talked with Chiang, and on his return to Tokyo announced that Japan had no plans to recognize Peking "in the foreseeable future." Scheduled to visit Chiang this fall: Iraq's Crown Prince Abdul Illah and Turkish Premier Adnan Menderes.

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