Office of the Historian

218. Message From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Secretary of State1

Taipei, April 25, 1955—11:15 a.m.

[Message No. 3.] We arrived Sunday2 11 am in tense atmosphere of speculation. News reports from US had indicated object of our mission to be to pressure Gimo to give up Quemoy and Matsu. We are informed Hong Kong Chinese papers for days have been stating British pressure was being applied US to this end. Gimo and Yeh had conference shortly before our arrival to discuss purpose of our trip. Gimo had concluded in view President Eisenhower’s message to him January 313 and since there had been no change in “present circumstances” our purpose was probably to discuss what in fact constituted an attack which was “in aid of and in preparation for an armed attack on Formosa and the Pescadores and dangerous to their defense”. Gimo visibly shaken to learn that advance news reports accurately reflected purpose of our visit. Report on 5-hour conference follows in separate message.4

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.5800/4–2155. Top Secret; Operational Immediate. Transmitted in telegram 250315Z from Chief MAAG Formosa to CNO. Received at the Department of Defense at 12:15 a.m.↩
  2. April 24.↩
  3. Transmitted in Document 69.↩
  4. Infra.↩