Office of the Historian

357.AK/3–1651: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative at the United Nations (Gross) to the Secretary of State

secret   priority
New York, March 16, 1951—2:03 p. m.

1287. Re GOC—approach to Chinese Communists. Grafstrom advised me that at GOC mtg afternoon March 15 is decided to transmit through Stockholm request to Swedish Ambassador Peiping to see Chinese FonMin with message from Entezam in following sense.

Entezam, as GA president, would like to ascertain whether Peiping intends to reply now to Entezam’s previous communication or whether it considers it more appropriate to withhold reply for present. GOC felt that formulation of approach to Peiping in the above sense would make it easier for Peiping to indicate its attitude toward Entezam’s communication without necessity for blunt rejection at the present time.1

Gross

  1. Prior to any action taken in connection with the proposed approach to the People’s Republic of China, the Department received the following message in telegram 4973, March 16, 7 p. m., from London:

    “According to msg received in FonOff from Peiping, Swedish Min called at Min Fon Affairs on 14 to inquire whether Chi Commies were now ready to reply to Entezam’s msg of Feb 18 in his capacity as Pres of GA. Min informed [British Chargé Lionel] Lamb he ‘got a blank negative’.” (320/3–1651)

    ↩