198. Telegram From the Consul General at Geneva (Gowen) to the Secretary of State1
805. Today, April 8, had meeting Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva, with Chinese Communist officials, Shen Ping, Acting Consul General, Yeh Ching-pa, aide, and Hsu Wei-chin, interpreter. Meeting lasted four and half hours. Language French. After stating I requested this meeting by order my government in whose name I am speaking, I delivered to Shen English text Department’s April 2 press release2 on Chinese students. I orally translated release into French. Text was then translated into Chinese. After lengthy discussion among Chinese themselves during which Shen made copious notes, I in strongest terms categorically rejected Chinese Communists’ groundless allegations about illegal, inhuman and oppressive treatment Chinese students in US. I most emphatically stated and stressed all facts stated for my guidance in Department telegram 828.3 In doing so, I took every occasion vigorously to impress upon Shen and his associates very grave and deep indignation and resentment American people and my government at pitiful plight Americans detained in Red China. I bitterly deplored failure Chinese Communists furnish satisfactory [Page 468] and prompt information re welfare these Americans and also failure explain their illegal detention which is causing and has caused so much sorrow and anxiety their families. Communist treatment these Americans contrasts sharply with excellent treatment, I said, consistently extended Chinese students by US Government. I said treatment extended Americans in Communist China is abhorrent to all principles justice, humaneness and fairness.
Following every item in Department telegram 828 and stressing every point I most vigorously again rejected all Communist Chinese charges about alleged illegal, inhuman and oppressive treatment Chinese students. Interpreter translated all I said sentence-by-sentence. Shen Ping, when I concluded, went into long discussion with his aides and after consulting various files prepared written statement in Chinese which was translated.
“First of all, I wish make declaration about press release you have handed me. I shall send this release to my government. I reserve right let you know some future date my government’s reaction. I had not previously received press release. Now about our students in US: They number about 5,000. They all have full right return their homeland. US Government should not have prevented them from going home. US should also have re-established promptly right these 5,000 students return their homeland and should not have ill-treated them.”
(At this point I interrupted him to repeat Chinese students in US have not been ill-treated but on contrary have been treated very well, indeed, as I had previously stated. Shen said he would make note my objection and report to his government).
[Here follows a continuation of Shen’s statement with periodic interruptions by Gowen. Shen cited cases of Chinese students in the United States who had allegedly been mistreated and charged that those Chinese who had found employment in the United States had done so only because they had been prevented from returning to China. Gowen disputed his allegations and requested further details concerning the cases.]
Shen noted my interruption and continued:
“I wish repeat US Government must grant permission our students to return their homeland and must not refuse their applications leave US. I also wish declare our attitude towards Americans in China who respect our laws is friendly and that we accord them all proper protection. Exit permits will be granted these Americans after prescribed examination provided they actually apply for exit permits. Those Americans in China who have committed crimes must be tried and condemned according our laws. Chinese Government in all such cases is inspired and guided by principles of justice. American protests about treatment we extend to Americans in China is groundless and is categorically rejected. Regarding Americans in China who have been tried and condemned and are in prison for their crimes, I [Page 469] wish to repeat what I said: Namely, all foreigners who commit crimes in China are sentenced to prison terms according our laws. Regarding Mrs. Bradshaw, I wish confirm she was released from prison because she was in poor health and that she has received medical care from our government.”
(Here I repeated my previous protest pointing out despite several such meetings Geneva since August 1954 Communists failed inform us Mrs. Bradshaw released from prison because ill-health in August 1954. I stressed utter lack any plausible reason for not giving us this information promptly.)
Shen noted my remarks and continued:
“Treatment extended Mrs. Bradshaw is human [humane]. Now I wish confirm except Mrs. Bradshaw who is ill, all other Americans in China are in good health. Your side should always consider great difference between Chinese students in US and those Americans in China who have been condemned because they violated Chinese laws. As I said before, our students went to US to study and have all right return their homeland. They have nothing in common with Americans who have committed crimes in China. I now wish tell you if Americans who have been condemned in China behave well a reduction their sentences can be envisaged in each case. According to press release you handed me today restraining orders were rescinded March 31 last regarding 76 Chinese students and release states they are free return their homeland. I ask you let us know names these 76 students and if they have actually left US. If they have not left, let us know date their coming departure in each case. You told us today only 60 out of group about 120 Chinese students expressed desire leave US for their homeland; We wish know why these 60 students do not wish go home. This, we do not understand.”
(I repeated though my government had legal right force early departure these students, it has always allowed them freedom make their own travel arrangements or remain in US if they so desired. This was noted by Shen without comment.)
He then continued:
“Your press statement April 2 also states there is one student among group 31 who petitioned UN Secretary General who case expected be settled shortly and 30 this group have been granted permission leave. We ask you give us name this single unsettled case this group and if he will obtain permission leave. We also wish know how many pending cases there are now; namely, how many students who have applied for permission return their homeland have not yet received this permission. We wish to know their names and whereabouts. As to group 26 students who petitioned President Eisenhower, you say 24 have been given permission depart and one case has not yet been completed and that there is no record other ever refused permission depart. We ask you give us names these two unsettled cases and let us know whether their applications to leave will be granted. On September 2, 1954, 9 Chinese students petitioned President Eisenhower for permission leave. We ask you let us know if [Page 470] their petition was answered and, if so, if they will be allowed leave. As to parcels for Americans in China, Chinese Red Cross can arrange return receipts be sent to senders through available Red Cross channels if such receipts are requested. However, receipts for these parcels can only be signed by Chinese Red Cross officials. We shall report to our government that you have said about February 10 telegram sent by American Red Cross to Chinese Red Cross proposing action expedite deliveries mail and packages from US to American prisoners in China. We shall let you know when we receive reply this case. Now I wish refer again Americans sentenced in China and inform you they always receive good treatment. This is confirmed by all Americans and other nationals who have left China. I have noted all you have stated today and wish confirm I shall report this to my government.”
At this point I pointed out extremely few isolated cases alleged incidents involving Chinese in US have not been proved and in any case would not in any way disprove excellent treatment always so generously extended to Chinese students in US. I again vigorously rejected all Chinese Communist charges to contrary.
Again I urged Chinese Communists give us prompt and complete information welfare whereabouts Americans in Red China, to let us know promptly names those who apply exit permits, to expedite their release and again urged action be taken also expedite exchange letters through Red Cross channels. I again stressed deep American resentment for Chinese Communist failure take favorable action on cases Americans detained. I vigorously repeated our patience and magnanimity should not be misconstrued as situation Americans in China is very grave concern my government and people and longer this situation remains unsettled more serious becomes our indignation. This matter is very important and urgently demands prompt favorable solution by Chinese Communists, I stressed. Today, I added, your side has requested much detailed information which you say you expect to receive from us. Our side shall likewise expect you to furnish us detailed information we have today requested you to furnish us. Shen made a note of this and meeting ended. All three Chinese in order rank then offered handshake and all solemnly muttered single word goodbye. No press release issued by me.
I attended meeting unaccompanied. Shillock in England on leave.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95A241/4–855. Confidential; Niact. Received at 9:37 p.m. Repeated for information to London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, and New York.↩
- The press release stated that the cases of those Chinese students who had been previously refused permission to leave the United States were under reexamination, that on March 31 the Immigration and Naturalization Service rescinded restraining orders in the cases of 76 students, who were consequently free to depart, and that it was anticipated that action would soon be completed on the few remaining cases. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, April 11, 1955, p. 627.↩
- Telegram 828 to Geneva, April 4, instructed Gowen that at the meeting he had requested with the Chinese representative, he should 1) give him the April 2 press release; 2) reject categorically the accusation of mistreatment of Chinese students in the United States; 3) state that the total number of Chinese students whose departure had been temporarily restrained but who had left or were now permitted to leave was 103 and that, except for several cases still under review, no Chinese student who desired to return to the mainland was being prevented from doing so; and 4) emphasize that the Communist failure to take action on the cases of the detained Americans was a major concern and had incurred the deep resentment of the American people. (Department of State, Central Files, 211.9311/3–3155)↩