Office of the Historian

357.AD/9–1553: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State

secret
London, September 15, 1953—1 p.m.

1109. Department pass USUN 16; repeated information New Delhi 22.

1.
Following is abridged paraphrase telegram from British mission Peiping received Foreign Office this morning:
(a)
Indian Ambassador Raghavan saw Chou En-lai twice before replying to UN on political conference.1 Chou gloomy and serious. Decision send reply taken by national committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference which in session in Peiping last week. At conference Liu Shao-chi had advocated sending no reply whatever to UN on grounds further discussions would serve no useful purpose. Chou implied he apprehensive effect on own position if, in effort keep negotiations open and notwithstanding fact Chinese had, from their own viewpoint, already made substantial concessions to meet United States stand, Chinese reply would lead to no modification United States position.
(b)
Raghavan tried persuade Chou at least avoid mention names additional countries, even if he insisted round-table discussion essential. Chou replied if no names mentioned, US would assume Chinese intended include Communist countries. If reply referred “other Asian countries” without mentioning which, US would assume Communists trying include Viet Minh and Outer Mongolia. Chinese preferred make plain they content with non-Communist Asian countries with which Peiping had diplomatic relations.
(c)
Chou made great point of round table and said there would be no reason refuse this approach since USSR, which non-combatant, already included. Chou anxious establish more friendly relations with United States with which, however, negotiations almost impossible; there appeared no possibility of conference being held in more friendly spirit or having any chance succeed unless neutrals participate.
(d)
Raghavan attempted argue, in interest world peace, it preferable have conference constituted on UN terms than none at all, but Chou appeared regard inclusion neutrals as important principle which China must maintain. He repeated he “wanted truth and could not sacrifice principles”.
(e)
Chou believed if Chinese representatives participated in discussions in UN they could get acceptance their proposals. Raghavan will continue press Chinese to agree to proposals which will get conference under way. He thinks during negotiations Chinese may be willing modify their proposals to some extent if US shows willingness compromise, but if US persists in maintaining its position there will be stalemate.
2.
Foreign Office remarks Chou up to his old tricks—that tactics he now using in discussions with Raghavan strikingly resemble those formerly employed in talks with Panikkar. He appears again be attempting use India bargain with United States in effort obtain yet further concessions. In inferring he risking own position and prestige in showing willingness negotiate with West, Chou using tactic already familiar to Department.
Aldrich
  1. On Sept. 13 in a radio broadcast subsequently sent as a communication to the President of the General Assembly, Chou En-lai delivered his government’s official reply to the Assembly resolution of Aug. 28 by suggesting a return to the “round table” conference with neutral participation and proposing that the entire matter be reconsidered at the Eighth Session of the Assembly, which was to open in New York on Sept. 15. For a text of this communication, see UN document A/2469.↩