A Study Of The Condolence Plans Of Britain Toward Chinese Leaders(1974-1976)

1970s is a special period in the course of the contemporary world history.During this period,Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated rapidly,US-Soviet relations tended to ease,China resumed her legal seat in the United Nations,many European countries and America established diplomatic relations with China,and Britain finally joined the EEC,etc.These events marked a turning point of the world situation.In such a background,British government was willing to adjust its foreign policies,and re-examine the relationship with China,America and EuropeIn addition,during this period,some important leaders of China passed away,so as Chiang Kai-shek in 1975.For British Government,which had recently established a formal relationship with China,it was no doubt a challenge to solve the diplomatic affairs properly.And it took a really long time to discuss repeatedly.The Far Eastern department,British Embassy and the British Hong Kong Government kept discussing,and adjusted the contingency plans according to the fluctuant situation,which reflected some adjustment of the British foreign policies.This paper plans to make an analysis of British foreign policies during this period through some related archival materials,so as to make a conclusion of the British diplomacy in the 1970s.During near two years between late 1974 to October 1976,the Far-Eastern Department have made many condolence plans for different Chinese leaders.Tung Pi-Wu,Chou En-Lai and Mao Tse-Tung are the most typical ones.The condolence plans made for these three leaders divide the whole procedure into three stages.Through analyzing this,we could visualize the transformation of British Diplomacy during the transitional periodDuring the whole procedure,the trend of foreign policies are influenced by lots of factors,including many details and the diplomatic strategy.All these factors constitute the complicated characteristic of British diplomacy at this time.Through this procedure,we could notice that British government have done much exploring and try from an old empire to a modern country.This procedure also reflects the feature of British diplomacy at this time:different kinds of diplomatic thoughts keep struggling with each other and finally combine with each other.Through this certain affair,we could form a deep understanding of the characteristics of the British diplomacy at this time.Based on this,it is easier to make a further study of the adj ustment of British country itself,and how Britain re-adapted to the brand-new global situation.This paper is divided into three parts.The first part is to tease out the procedure of the establishment of the contingency plans about the death of Chinese leaders in the 1970s,so as to express the development and turning trend of the decisions made by FCO.The second part is to make an analysis of some important problems during this period,including the condolence book and the half-mast issue which were discussed most,FCO’s attitude toward the death of Chiang Kai-shek,the consideration about China’s internal affairs,and the status of Hong Kong among this issue.This part is aimed to show British diplomacy during this turning period through analyzing the consideration of British government.The third part concludes the characteristics of British diplomacy in the 1970s.First,expounding the change of identity of Britain from an empire to the member of Europe through the failure of the Three Circle Diplomacy.Second,to analyze the ’Queen’s pleasure’ and ’our colleagues’,through which to show the British diplomacy’s battle between the tradition and the fact.Third,to discuss the rising of China’s status in British diplomacy,so as to reflect the exploration of British diplomacy in this turning point.Finally,I’ll make a conclusion that the transformation of British diplomacy in this period is interwove by isolationism and realism.