281. Telegram From the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State1
New
York, July 1,
1955—1 p.m.
2. Re US fliers held in Red China. In conversation with Hammarskjold today he informed me that he will be sending another message to Chou En-lai concerning the fliers. He intends to remind Chou that no action has yet been taken regarding the remaining fliers still held prisoner and expressing the hope that action can be taken soon.
Hammarskjold will send me a copy of this message which will be transmitted to the Department upon receipt.2
Lodge
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95A241/7–155. Confidential; Priority.↩
- The message, the text of which was transmitted to the Department in telegram 3 from New York, July 1, stated Hammarskjöld’s conviction that continued delay in the release of the 11 fliers would “create a situation where a constructive approach to wider problems is likely to be seriously hampered” and that “while a release of the eleven now would facilitate a future discussion of other problems, it is not a measure which would be recognized as an apporopriate part of a broader settlement.” It also stated that Hammarskjöld had thus far refrained from making a report to the United Nations because he believed the contacts between Chou and himself to be in the interests of all parties concerned and expressed the hope that it would be possible for him to avoid a report of failure with regard to the 11, “with all the obvious consequences that such a report to the United Nations would have.” (Ibid.)↩