893.01/10–649
Memorandum by Mr. Troy L. Perkins of the Office of Chinese Affairs to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Merchant)
With reference to that part of Peiping’s 168990 which suggests that we correct the impression given by our press people regarding the Chou En-lai letter, Mr. Freeman and I feel that it would not be advisable for the Department to retrace its steps on this point of interpretation.91 The balance might be righted by a remark from our spokesman that the Communists appear to have sent the same letter to all representatives of foreign countries in China, including the eastern European countries (incoming press reviews indicate that the latter countries received a similar text).
For our own purposes, we agree with Clubb that the letter, while brief, was not curt or imperious. To preserve a long-standing Communist line with regard to Chinese equality, “liberation”, etc., the new regime evidently intends to avoid any possible criticism of being a suppliant in its relations with foreigners.