790B.00/7–2950: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in China
119. Reurtel 152 July 29.1 Although matter still uncleared between Defense and State it wld appear that Nat visit and search Chi shipping on high seas will at least be permitted. That principle wld seem to imply granting Nats right arrest and seizure vessels whose credentials not in order.
In circumstances you are hereby authorized inform FonOff Dept concurs visit, search and seizure defected Nat ships in question wld be within scope activities envisaged by President’s June 27 statement and cld be effected at volition Nat Govt but only if such visit search seizure were effected either on high seas or within territorial waters of Nat-controlled areas and wld be inappropriate if there were any such seizure within territorial waters Commie-controlled mainland.
Since intent President’s aforementioned statement was to bring about cessation hostilities and effect neutralization Formosa, however, it is considered that it wld not be appropriate for Nats use armed force against such ships unless they attempted resist arrest and seizure.
- Not printed.↩