89. Telegram From Secretary of State Dulles to the Embassy in Poland0
Dulte 1. Eyes Only Ambassador from Secretary.
Dear Jake: I send this personal message to express my consciousness of the great importance of the talks you will initiate tomorrow and the President’s and my confidence that you will ably conduct them.
Our basic objective is to bring about quickly a cessation of hostilities. Time is running against us in the sense that as matters are now going Communist interdiction fire threatens to create a situation such that Quemoy will soon be in a desperate plight and we shall have to consider drastic measures. ChiComs are presumably aware of this, and I hope do not want these drastic measures to be taken. But they may be indifferent to what would give pause to a more highly developed, less over-populated country.
If there were a cease-fire we assume that it would also involve measures which would end alleged provocations from the island against the mainland. Any measures in this category would be considered by US, in consultation of course with ChiNats. One thing that cannot be entertained is the turnover of the offshore islands to ChiComs.
It is likely that this China matter will come before the General Assembly. Probably there will be a renewed effort to get admission of ChiComs on the theory this would facilitate settlement. We shall vigorously, and I believe successfully, oppose this.
Soviets will probably attack our alleged “aggression” in China just as they did in the case of Korea.
I expect allude briefly to situation in my address now set for Thursday morning, and naturally would be glad to get any impressions you have to guide me. I presently plan only to refer briefly to facts, to bilateral talks in Warsaw and to possibility of our seeking United Nations action if talks seem doomed to fail.
If you feel you need any added personnel assistance, or if you feel that your instructions are obscure or that you do not have adequate discretion, let us know.
Best wishes.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/9–1458. Secret; Niact. Repeated priority to the Department as Dulte 1, which is the source text. Dulles was in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly which he was to address on Thursday, September 18.↩