336. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1

657. Subj: Chirep.

1.
Amb Liu (GRC) paid courtesy call on Amb Bush March 11. Amb Liu, noting his concern with Terence Smith article ( NY Times, March 10) and Times editorial (March 11)2 said he can’t understand why US wants PRC in UN when fundamental policy of Communists has not changed. Amb Bush said our policy review is not based on naivete, that we hold no brief for Peking vis-à-vis Taiwan, but that we are faced with a new situation in the UN and must decide on most realistic course of action.
2.
Amb Liu, acknowledging the above, said he realized it is because of the adverse tide facing us that we are considering alternative strategies to preserve GRC place in the UN but he would like us to keep in mind the following before deciding on any third resolution:
A.
Pres Chiang is engaged in a political struggle and anything which damaged the GRC position in the UN would have grave repercussions in Taiwan.
B.
US should not co-sponsor any third resolution as this would be damaging to whole political struggle of GRC and “pull rug out from under them.”
C.
SC seat should not be mentioned in any resolution as retention of seat is of prime importance to GRC.
3.
Before leaving, Amb Liu told Amb Bush to please ignore press comments coming from Taipei re President’s report as he (Liu) fully aware of positive points report had made concerning US–GRC relations.
Bush
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, UN 6 CHICOM. Secret. Repeated to Taipei.
  2. U.S. Said To Plan a Shift on Peking,” The New York Times, March 10, 1971, p. 1; and “China Policy … Negotiation …,” ibid., March 11, 1971, p. 38.