Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 299

Memorandum by the Coordinator for the Geneva Conference (Johnson) to the Secretary of State1

confidential
[Washington,] April 20, 1954.

[Subject:]

  • Representation—Geneva Conference

It is believed that:

1.
It would not be desirable for members of the U.S. Delegation to:
a.
Entertain or be entertained by the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans.
b.
Appear at small social functions such as dinners or luncheons where the Chinese Communists and/or the North Koreans will be present.
2.
A concerted effort will be made by “some” to bring together you and representatives of the Chinese Communist and/or the North Koreans outside of the conference room for the purpose of embarrassing you.
3.
If the U.S. were to hold a reception in honor of all participants to the conference, except the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans, the USSR would not attend.

It is recommended therefore that:

1.
In accordance with normal international practice the U.S. do not during the conference invite the Communist Chinese or the North Koreans to any social function.
2.
In accordance with normal international practice the U.S. do not accept any invitation issued by the Communist Chinese or the North Koreans.
3.
The allied governments be discreetly informed in the early states of the conference that the U.S. will not accept invitations to dinners, luncheons, or other small gatherings to which the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans are also invited.
4.
The U.S. not hold a reception but limit its representational activities to dinners and luncheons.

The U.S. would of course accept invitations to receptions held by participants other than the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans, even though the latter are to be present.

Concurrences:

FE—Mr. Robertson EUR—Mr. Merchant L—Mr. Phleger C—Mr. MacArthur II

  1. The source text is a carbon copy, bearing no initials either of Johnson or those listed under “Concurrences” at the end of the memorandum. There is no indication on the source text that Dulles saw or commented on the memorandum.

    A typewritten memorandum bearing the designation US Admin/19, dated Apr. 27, in Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 299, which was apparently distributed to members of the U.S. Delegation, incorporates the suggestions in paragraphs 1 a and b and the final 5 paragraphs of the above memorandum. The memorandum of Apr. 27 is titled “Representation—Geneva Conference” and states that all members of the delegation will be governed by the principles set forth therein.

    ↩