The Taiwan Strait crisis; U.S. concern with the defense of Taiwan and the maintenance of peace in the Taiwan area; the Formosa resolution; efforts to bring the problem before the U.N. Security Council; negotiations leading to the Republic of China’s evacuation of the Tachen Islands with U.S. assistance; diplomatic efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the crisis; the question of U.S. policy with regard to Quemoy and Matsu; the question of Nationalist response to the growth of Communist air power; the Robertson–Radford mission to Taipei; the U.S. response to Premier Chou En-lai’s proposal of negotiations; diplomatic efforts to obtain the release of American prisoners in the People’s Republic of China; negotiations leading to the establishment of the Ambassadorial talks at Geneva between representatives of the United States and the People’s Republic of China1
1. For previous documentation on this subject, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. xiv, Part 1, pp. 1 ff.
121. Memorandum of a Conversation With the President, Washington, February 19, 1955, 11 a.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, ACW Diaries. Top Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster. The time of the meeting is from the President’s appointment diary. (Ibid., President’s Daily Appointments)
122. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump) to the Naval Attaché in the Republic of China (Kilmartin)
Source: JCS Records, CCS 381 Formosa (11–8–48) Sec. 19. Top Secret. Repeated to the Chief of Naval Operations and Chief, MAAG Formosa for information. A copy, apparently given to Dulles by Stump, bears the notation that it was seen by the Secretary. (Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 60 D 627, CF 426)
123. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 794A.5/2–2155. Top Secret; Niact. Received at 5:11 a.m.
124. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Thailand
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/2–2155. Top Secret; Niact. Drafted by the President. A memorandum for the record by Goodpaster, dated March 24, reads as follows:
“On 21 February 1955 Hoover, Murphy, Radford and Duncan met with the President in connection with a message which had come in from Secretary Dulles concerning points made by Admiral Stump. The President indicated that Secretary Dulles and he had discussed the matter of planting a seed with Chiang out of which might grow in due course the idea of a voluntary withdrawal from Quemoy and Matsu.
“After discussion, a draft message which the President had prepared was sent to Secretary Dulles with an indication that he should advise Admiral Stump.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Miscellaneous Series, Conferences on Formosa)
The conversation with Secretary Dulles to which the President referred has not been identified, but see Documents 112 and 121.
126. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–DU/2–2455. Secret. Received in Washington at 2:24 p.m. Repeated for information to the Department as Dulte 7 which is the source text.
127. Telegram From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump)
Source: JCS Records, CJCS 091 China. Secret; Operational Immediate. Sent via the Naval Attaché in Bangkok. The source text bears the date-time group 242048Z.
128. Diary Entry by the President’s Press Secretary (Hagerty)
Source: Eisenhower Library, Hagerty Papers. Extract.
129. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/2–2555. Top Secret; Priority. Received at 12:01 p.m.
130. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/2–2555. Top Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution. Received at 8:06 a.m.
131. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1 BA/2–2555. Top Secret; Priority.
132. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Burma
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5 MSP/2–2555. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Walter K. Scott and signed by Hoover. Secretary Dulles visited Burma after his departure from Bangkok.
133. Telegram From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/2–2755. Top Secret; Priority. Repeated for information to London.
134. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/2–2855. Top Secret; Eyes Only.
135. Telegram From the Consul General at Geneva (Gowen) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95A241/2–2855. Confidential; Priority. Received at 7:58 p.m. Repeated for information to London and Hong Kong.
137. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/3–355. Secret.
138. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–DU/3–455. Top Secret. No transmission time is indicated on the source text. Received on March 6 at 4:15 p.m. A copy bears the notation “File” in the President’s handwriting. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International Series)
139. Telegram From the Ambassador in the Philippines (Spruance) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.15–RO/3–455. Secret. Passed to CINCPAC for Dulles by the Department, and repeated to Taipei for information.
140. Memorandum of Record and Understanding by the Chief of Naval Operations (Carney)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/3–655. Top Secret. Sent to Under Secretary Hoover with an attached note stating that copies had been sent to Secretary Dulles and to Murphy, MacArthur, and Robertson. A note on the source text indicates that it was distributed to Secretary Wilson, Admirals Radford, Stump, and Duncan, and Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas.
141. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, March 6, 1955, 5:15 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Top Secret. Drafted on March 7.
142. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and Senator Walter George, Department of State, Washington, March 7, 1955
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Senator Walter George. Top Secret. A notation on the source text indicates that this conversation took place at breakfast.
143. Letter From the British Ambassador (Makins) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/3–755. Secret and Personal.
144. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 9, 1955, 10:30 a.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/3–955. Secret. Drafted by McConaughy.
145. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 9, 1955, 12:30 p.m.
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/3–955. Secret. Drafted by Merchant. The time of the meeting is from Dulles’ appointment diary. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)
146. Memorandum of Discussion at the 240th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, March 10, 1955
Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Gleason on March 11.
147. Telegram From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/3–1055. Top Secret; Priority. Received at 11:17 a.m. Repeated for information to London.
148. Minutes of a Cabinet Meeting, The White House, Washington, March 11, 1955, 9–10:05 a.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Cabinet Papers. Confidential.
149. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the President and the Secretary of State, Washington, March 11, 1955, 10:45 a.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Top Secret; Personal and Private.
150. Memorandum for the Record, by the President’s Special Assistant (Cutler)
Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Miscellaneous Series, Formosa—Visit to CINCPAC. Top Secret; Eyes Only.