GIOVANNI-ANDREA  CAMPANA

Pechino o Taipei? Il dibattito anglo-americano sulla collocazione internazionale del Giappone 

dopo la firma del trattato di pace del 1951

N. 160

Summary — For years historians have explored the Anglo-american special relationship in Europe during the postwar era, without taking great account of the diplomatic relations between these two powers in the area of the Far East. My essay tries to fill this gap (peculiar to the Italian historiography) focussing on a case-study that can be considered indicative of the balance of power between Washington and London in relation to North-East Asia at the beginning of the Fifties.

While the war in Korea was being fought, British and American diplomats (and political leaders) were negotiating the terms of the Japanese Peace Treaty. Leaving other aspects of these negotiations apart, the essay tells the story of their attitude to the problem of the orientation of a peaceful Japan towards China (People’s Republic of China or Republic of China). In particular it examines British politics and the bureaucratic debate in their interactions with Dulles’ and Japanese attitudes.

This essay is based on primary documents from the British state archives, published American documents, and existing literature.