113. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge)1
428. Deliver following message urgently to Hammarskjold:
[Page 278]“You will recall that when you talked with me on January 19 you told me that the repatriation of the seven castaway Chinese fishermen rescued by our Air Force and now in the Philippines2 might well contribute to the success of your efforts to obtain the release of the imprisoned fliers. You will therefore be interested to know that we anticipate that arrangements will be completed within the next few days for the return of the seven fishermen to Mainland China. I hope that this information will be useful to you in your further efforts on behalf of the fliers.”3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95A241/2–1655. Secret; Limited Distribution. Drafted in CA; cleared by Secretary Dulles (initialed for him by a member of the Executive Secretariat Staff) and by Wainhouse; approved by Robertson.↩
- The fishermen had been picked up by a U.S. Air Force rescue plane in May 1954 from a reef in the Paracel Islands where they were stranded and had been since then at Clark Field in the Philippines. A memorandum of February 14, from Martin to Murphy states that efforts were made in August and September 1954 to arrange for the return of the fishermen, that the British informed the Department on November 29, 1954, that Peking had agreed to permit their reentry, but that, after the sentencing of the U.S. airmen, the Department had instructed the Embassy in Manila to take no further action concerning them. An inquiry from Peking had been received through the British as to when the fishermen would be returned, and Martin recommended their prompt return. (Ibid., 993.733/2–1455)↩
- Telegram 484 from New York, February 16, reported that Lodge gave the Secretary’s message to Hammarskjöld, who said he could make good use of the information. (Ibid., 611.95A241/2–1655)↩