178. Editorial Note

At President Kennedy’s press conference on May 22, 1963, a reporter noted that there had been “considerable discussion in the Far East that Chiang Kai-shek might be preparing to invade the mainland of China” and asked how the U.S. Government would view such an attempt. The President replied that the treaty relationship under the Mutual Defense Treaty provided for “very close consultation between the two governments before any such action would be taken.” He continued: “As a practical matter, this of course does involve the United States, and we have expressed our views to the Government of Formosa on the matter.” (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, pages 422-423)