Office of the Historian

244. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in India1

Washington, May 7, 1955—1:07 p.m.

1756. Your 16622 and 1713.3 Deptel 1703 sent Karachi 18114 Djakarta 1833 Taipei 655 set forth our views regarding use of any intermediary at present in probing Chinese Communist intentions on Taiwan problem. Those views and following comments can be used as background for future conversations with Nehru and Government [Page 558] India. Djakarta (in connection Djakarta’s 2113)5 and Karachi should also be guided accordingly. We should avoid allowing any of them believe they have mandate speak for us when and if they visit Peiping.

Transcript Secretary’s April 26 Press Conference which transmitted in wireless bulletin gives general lines our present thinking. Our objectives in probing Communist intentions will be to assess prospects for achieving a lasting cease-fire and general acceptance of necessity for peaceful solution to Taiwan problem.

Regarding Menon’s comments on difficulties public agreement to cease-fire we agree that initially this may not be possible but at some time this and other negotiated points would have to be made public somehow. We believe there is no need to concern ourselves unduly with this problem now, however, and we should seek initially only to find out whether realistic basis for cease-fire exists.

Regarding imprisoned American airmen we appreciate action taken by GOI on their behalf and regard Peiping’s continued failure act as serious matter.

Hoover
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/5–155. Secret; Priority. Repeated for information to Jakarta, Karachi, and Taipei. Drafted in CA, cleared in PSA and SOA and with Deputy Under Secretary Murphy and approved by Robertson.↩
  2. Document 234.↩
  3. Telegram 1713 from New Delhi, May 6, reported a conversation the previous evening between Prime Minister Nehru and Ambassador Cooper and requested guidance. Nehru told Cooper that Menon was going to Peking at Chou’s request and that Nehru had asked him to explore China’s attitude and position. Nehru also stated that he had urged Chou at Bandung to release the American airmen, whereupon Chou had said the matter would again be considered upon his return to China. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.95A241/5–655)↩
  4. Document 232.↩
  5. Telegram 2113 from Jakarta, May 2, reported a conversation between Prime Minister Ali and Ambassador Cumming, in which Ali offered his good offices in furthering a settlement of the Taiwan problem. (Department of State, Central Files, 756D.00/5–255)↩