740.00119 Council/3–1247
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)
| Participants: | The Acting Secretary |
| The Chinese Ambassador8 | |
| Mr. Vincent |
The Chinese Ambassador called at 5:15 yesterday afternoon at his request. He expressed his concern over the Soviet proposal that discussion of China be placed on the agenda of the Foreign Ministers’ Conference at Moscow. He said he had no instructions but that he knew his Government was opposed to this proposal, and he went to some length in expressing his ideas on sovereignty, interference in internal affairs of state, et cetera.
Mr. Acheson informed him that we had a report from the Secretary on the subject; that the Secretary wanted time to consider the matter; and that if such discussions were to take place at the Conference, a representative of the Chinese Government should be present. He reminded the Ambassador of our recent exchange of notes9 on this subject, and Mr. Vincent recalled the Secretary’s recent oral comment10 to Ambassador Koo, the sense of which was that the Secretary himself had no intention of putting Far Eastern matters on the agenda of the Moscow Conference.
[Page 612]The Ambassador then launched forth into a long circumlocutory discourse on the difficulties of the China situation, China’s desire to bring about order in the country, the need for time and patience in accomplishing this, et cetera, et cetera. Mr. Vincent informed him that the Department certainly was not impatiently pressing the Chinese to find a solution, although it was certainly our desire that one be found. The Ambassador inferred that, whereas we were showing considerable interest in Eastern Europe (particularly Greece) we were not showing similar interest in China. Mr. Acheson and Mr. Vincent assured the Ambassador that there was a continuing and very lively interest in China; that we were anxious to be helpful in any practicable way; and that the Secretary was very much aware of the importance of finding a solution for China’s problems.
The Ambassador wanted to know what he might tell his Government with regard to the issue raised at Moscow. Mr. Acheson suggested that he refer to our recent note and to his conversation recently with General Marshall. He added that he was sure General Marshall would reach a wise and correct decision in the matter.