Office of the Historian

233. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Australia1

Washington, April 30, 1955—4:27 p.m.

250. Spender delivered message Menzies to Secretary re Taiwan2 stressing importance Cabinet places on following up Chou En Lai’s proposal. Suggested might afford opportunity explore settlement wider than off-shore islands and Taiwan. Suggested specific possibility including Commie Chinese in four-power meeting3 to attend “in respect of Asian matters”.

Secretary told Spender orally4 our position this matter made clear his April 26 and President’s April 27 press conferences. We intend to try to find out if proposal is sincere. We are considering now best way accomplishing this. The Secretary added public opinion this country would be opposed adding Commie Chinese to Big Four meeting explained this proposal made by Russians at Berlin5 debated and defeated.

Secretary answering message through Spender6 reiterating above points and explaining we against Big Five proposal for following reasons: (a) do not desire give Commie Chinese prestige and international [Page 536] standing which would result, (b) hope to confine possible Big Four meeting to limited agenda on specific European problems.

Texts messages being pouched.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/4–3055. Secret. Drafted in BNA and cleared in EUR and FE. Approved and signed by Dulles. Repeated for information to London.↩
  2. Dated April 27. (Ibid., 793.00/4–2755)↩
  3. Reference is to a proposed meeting of U.S., British, French, and Soviet heads of government; the meeting was held in Geneva July 18–23.↩
  4. On April 27, when Spender delivered the message from Menzies; the conversation was recorded in a memorandum of conversation by Raynor. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/4–2755)↩
  5. The Berlin Conference of Foreign Ministers, January 25–February 18, 1954; for documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, volume vii.↩
  6. Raynor gave the message to Australian Counselor F.J. Blakeney on May 2; a copy is filed with a covering memorandum of April 29 from Merchant to Dulles. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/4–2955)↩