26. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
174. For Ambassador from Secretary. FYI Our talks with Chinese at Geneva are not going well. First agreed item was matter of repatriation of civilians.
Chou En-lai in his foreign policy speech of July 30 said, “It should be possible in forthcoming talks at Ambassadorial level to reach first of all reasonable settlement of question of return of civilians to respective countries. Number of American civilians in China is small and question can be easily settled.”
Despite this statement ChiComs representative has so far refused admit right of Americans to return except subject to settlement of civil and criminal cases involving them. This, of course, we knew before going to Geneva. We on our side have agreed that every Chinese national in US who wants to return to Communist China is free to do so and ChiComs may designate Indian Embassy to facilitate such return, to transmit funds, etc. We have also agreed right of return and function of Indian Embassy should be widely advertised both by us and by Indian Embassy.
The eighth meeting of the Ambassadors will take place tomorrow August 18 and unless some progress can soon be made, talks may break down entirely. We are not prepared to go on to discuss other matters unless the agreed first item has been disposed of.
It is not our desire to request any intervention on behalf of Soviet Government, but if appropriate occasion arises you might let them know what state of affairs is. They might do something on their own initiative and responsibility.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–1755. Secret; Priority. Drafted and signed by Dulles; cleared by Sebald. A telegram identical in substance was sent to New Delhi as telegram 383, August 17. (Ibid.)↩