306. Letter From the Secretary of State to British Foreign Secretary Macmillan1
Dear Harold: Please ask your Foreign Office to transmit the following message to Chou En-lai on our behalf as proposed identic announcement:
“As a result of communication between Peiping and Washington through the diplomatic channels of the United Kingdom, it has been agreed that the talks held in the last year between consular representatives of both sides at Geneva should be resumed on ambassadorial level in order to aid in settling the matter of the repatriation of civilians who desire to return to their respective countries and to facilitate further discussions and settlement of certain other practical matters now at issue between both sides. The first meeting of ambassadorial representatives of both sides will take place on August 1, 1955, at Geneva.”
We are glad that our proposal commends itself. The announcement above proposed is substantially identical with Chou En-lai’s proposal except that the words “China” and “America” are obviously inappropriate and the time of July 21 is too soon for us. In view of preoccupations with reference to Geneva, we cannot designate and instruct our representative and get him to Geneva prior to the end of July.
I would suggest release GMT 2 a.m. July 19. Please let us know when you have obtained confirmation.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 515. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Dulles. The text of the letter was transmitted to London for Aldrich in telegram 10 from Geneva, repeated to Washington for Hoover as Dulte 10, dated July 16. (Ibid., Central Files, 611.93/7–1655)↩
- The source text, a carbon copy, bears a typed signature.↩