278. Telegram From the Consul General at Geneva (Gowen) to the Department of State1
1159. Your 1195.2 Today I had meeting with Chinese Communist representative Shen Ping and his aides Hsu and Yeh at Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva. Accompanied by Shillock. Meeting lasted two hours forty-five minutes. Language French.
Shen opened meeting reading prepared Chinese statement which Hsu translated French as follows:
[Here follows the first portion of Shen’s prepared statement. In response to inquiries which Gowen had made at their May 30 meeting, Shen stated that any request to increase the weight limitation on parcels to American prisoners in China should be made by the American Red Cross to the Chinese Red Cross, that American prisoners had been informed previously that they could send letters to their families, and that Americans who were not in prison could leave the country if they settled their debts. He also commented on the status of several individuals about whom Gowen had inquired.]
Shen continued: our attitude has never changed since first meetings with your side during Geneva Conference. We have always treated all cases Americans in China as expeditiously as possible.
Since Geneva Conference twenty-three Americans have left our country. These are concrete facts showing our side wishes settle effectively all pending cases between our country and U.S. in order relieve tense situation between our respective countries. However the efforts of your side in this sense have not been satisfactory. (I said our side had done everything consistently possible expedite departure all Chinese students wishing to leave our country and we had repeatedly stated our readiness furnish information concerning any Chinese in the U.S. in whom his side interested. I also confirmed information this subject given our previous meeting and asked Shen indicate any particular case in which his side felt we had not done best to expedite matters. Shen noted this).
He then continued: referring Chinese students in your country I wish stress following: no student who wishes to return China including [Page 614] those students and other Chinese having knowledge special techniques should be prevented returning China. June 30, 1955 must not be final date for Chinese students to apply for permission leave or date on which they should leave U.S.3 After June 30, 1955 some Chinese students and other Chinese should still have right to return freely their homeland. No unreasonable pressure should be exercised against Chinese students who wish go home. Necessary give them sufficient time receive funds for passage and other matters and make necessary travel arrangements. From letters sent by students to their families our side knows American authorities gave them only one month time leave your country. This causing difficulties our students not giving them sufficient time prepare to go home. This we consider extremely unreasonable. I ask you inform your government in order this unreasonable pressure cease promptly. Shen here said he had completed his statement.
In reply saying I was speaking for my Government I acknowledged with appreciation release four flyers and Bishop Donaghy.4 I expressed disappointment so few Americans released to date and emphatically repeated request for information and action on persons whose names submitted last meeting. I also inquired about whereabouts Mrs. Bradshaw and why she not departed China following her release prison. I inquired status Marcella Eileen Huizer, Nadeshda and Irene Romanoff and reasons they remain China. I reiterated all points raised last meeting (Deptel 1012)5 including points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 your 1195. As Shen had raised subject Chinese students I stated that at last meeting U.S. action regarding students had been fully explained. I again repeated our willingness promptly look into any case Chinese students their side claimed being prevented return China.
Shen replied: I wish stress again our side always inspired maintain spirit of first Geneva contacts between our two sides. We are disposed to settle pending cases between China and the U.S. I again repeat we have treated these cases of condemned Americans and others as promptly as possible. We think that to relieve tension and to settle pending cases between our two sides both sides must make every effort. Within our possibility we have made best efforts and [Page 615] we expect your side to do the same. Madame Huizer is Dutch national. If Nadeshda and Irene Romanoff are identical with women same given names but Romanova family name they have not applied our local officials for permission to leave. We so informed you June 21, 1954.
I again said fact nearly year direct discussions at Geneva concerning detained American civilians and military personnel has produced such meager results has caused not only grave personal tragedy for prisoners and families but likewise profound disappointment and serious resentment among entire American people. I again stressed and urged all detained Americans be allowed freedom return home.
In reply Shen again said his side wishes relieve tension between his country and U.S. He added Chinese students who have not been able complete travel arrangements buy their passage and settle matters and arrangements for their repatriation should be given every opportunity do so and no rigid time limit to complete these arrangements should be set. I reiterated our willingness examine case any Chinese student who claims being prevented repatriation and added some students had voluntarily elected remain U.S. or to proceed country other than Red China. Shen again repeated his side wishes relieve tension by settling pending cases within limits their possibilities.
Shen made it special point emphasize desire settle pending cases to relieve tension between China and the U.S. At one point his interpreter referred to international tension but after checking back with Shen and writing down his reply he said “tension between U.S. and China”. Shen gave me the impression this distinction had been especially featured in his instructions.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/6–2355. Confidential; Niact. Repeated for information to New York, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, and the U.S. Delegation at the U.N. meeting in San Francisco.↩
- Telegram 1195 to Geneva, June 22, transmitted instructions for a meeting between Gowen and Shen Ping, scheduled at Chinese request for June 23. Gowen was instructed to acknowledge with appreciation the release of the four flyers and one recently-released civilian, to repeat his request for information and action on the persons whose names had been given to the Chinese representatives at the May 30 meeting, and to reiterate the representations he had made at that meeting. (Ibid., 293.1111/6–2255)↩
- Telegram 67 to Geneva, July 8, stated that there was no such requirement but that a misunderstanding might have arisen from the fact that a program of emergency financial aid to Chinese students (in existence since 1949) had ended on June 30 and no new obligation of funds from that program was possible for travel or other expenses. (Ibid., 293.1111/7–855) The termination of the program was announced in the Department’s April 2 press release which Gowen gave to Shen Ping at their April 8 meeting; see Document 198.↩
- Bishop Frederick A. Donaghy, a Catholic missionary, imprisoned from December 1950 through June 1951, had been deported to Hong Kong on June 10, 1955.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 263.↩