135. Telegram From the Consul General at Geneva (Gowen) to the Department of State1
672. Gowen and Shillock met Chinese Communist officials Shen Ping Acting Consul General, Li Kuang Tze Consul, Yeh Chin Pa official [Page 316] and Hsu Wei Chin interpreter February 28 at Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva.2 Language French. Meeting lasted two hours. Chinese officials were first to offer handshake before meeting started.
Gowen said, “My Government has directed me to say: As you know according to recent resolution of United Nations efforts are now being made by Secretary General Hammarskjold to obtain release 15 members United States Air Force who were attached to United Nations Command in Korea and who are held by your side. For this reason this meeting here today will be confined only to discussion regarding other Americans in Communist China whose names were indicated on list previously delivered to your side at Geneva. The following names should be added to that list: John Thomas Downey and Richard Fecteau about whom your side makes no mention whatsoever notwithstanding request made to you by American Ambassador Johnson at previous meetings at Geneva in order to determine the names of American civil prisoners mentioned on that list.”
The Chinese answer to this was “We have noted your statement. Our Government has already condemned John Thomas Downey and Richard Fecteau who are included in group of 13 spies tried and condemned in our country as we had previously reported.”
Gowen said “I desire to express satisfaction on the departure from Communist China of 16 Americans since the first meeting.”
Chinese replied “We take note of this.”
Gowen said “You have not furnished any information on status of other Americans detained by you. I hereby renew my request for information concerning them.”
Answer was “We shall seek advice on this point and let you know in due course.”
Gowen said “I wish to emphasize that the opposition of my Government and my people to these unwarranted detentions is grave and strong. I am instructed to demand the liberation of these American citizens.”
Answer was “The policy of our Government has been and will continue to be to grant authorization to leave our country after examination to those Americans who wish to depart for the United States provided however that no cases of a civil or criminal nature are pending against them.”
[Here follow inquiries concerning individual U.S. nationals from whom no communication had been received or whose illness had been reported and discussion concerning the transmission of letters and packages through the Chinese Red Cross.]
[Page 317]All Chinese answers were made after consulting lengthy Chinese files and after Chinese side had consulted among themselves. Then reading from prepared Chinese statement which was subsequently translated the Chinese said “The policy of the Government of China regarding Americans wishing to leave China has already been proclaimed during the Geneva Conference. This policy consists in protecting foreigners who wish to leave China provided such foreigners respect Chinese laws. Authorization to leave China is already granted and will be granted after examination to Americans who wish to leave China. But those foreigners who have committed crimes are condemned according to Chinese law. This policy has already been communicated to your side and has always been applied by Chinese Government since Geneva Conference. Furthermore more than 10 Americans have already left China. Therefore your statement about the opposition on your side on this subject is groundless. We cannot agree on subject of the departure of Americans as our policy is clear and already known to you. We do not know if there is any news concerning the departure from China of the 13 American spies. Regarding exchange of small packages including medicines and letters between Americans in China and their families in United States through Chinese Red Cross we have always applied this channel and you can always do so in the future. According to American press agency reports certain members of families of the 13 condemned Americans in China expressed intention to go to China to visit these prisoners. If such relatives wish to go to China our government is in a position to do the necessary for their visas”.
Gowen said “This question has been examined by my Government in relation to a similar offer which your side made to enable relatives of American military personnel imprisoned in Communist China to visit them there. My Government for the time being has decided not to issue passports to any Americans to visit Red China in view uncertainties created by belligerent attitude and actions of Chinese Communists. The situation has not improved since that decision was made. The Chinese Communists could benefit these American relatives most by releasing these detained Americans.”
The Chinese answer was “To meet the wishes of relatives of condemned Americans in China who wish to go to China to visit these condemned persons the Chinese Government is ready to undertake the necessary action to procure them visas. But the American Government is fearful lest the relatives of these prisoners as well as the American people will become aware of the reality of the crimes committed by these condemned men and the American Government is also fearful lest these relatives and the people of America get to know that the Chinese Government really desires peace. Thus the American Government has refused to issue passports to these relatives [Page 318] who wish to go to China. The responsibility for this refusal rests with the American Government.”
Gowen replied “I reject your accusations against my Government. They are completely false and groundless.”
The Chinese did not reply.
Comments: Chinese made no reference to their students. Referring to statement made by Chinese that they would seek advice and let us know when they might have news welfare 14 Americans listed above Gowen asked how soon we might expect reply. After somewhat lengthy consultation among themselves reply was “We shall advise our Government about this and when we receive reply we shall communicate with you.”
General attitude Chinese side was quite relaxed, calm and not at all tense. When meeting adjourned they again were first to offer handshake all saying single word goodbye. We received clear impression Chinese wished to stress Red Cross channels available for mail, small parcels, including medicines, and that they clearly indicated without saying it, further such meetings might be held here concerning our desire obtaining information re welfare whereabouts detained Americans. We thought Chinese statement quoted above that they do not know if there is any news about departure from China of “the 13 American spies” of special interest especially as it was quite unsolicited.
- 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.↩
- For text of a Department of State press release concerning the meeting, issued on March 1, see Department of State Bulletin, March 14, 1955, pp. 429–430.↩