Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, China, Volume II

309. Telegram From the Ambassador in India (Cooper) to the Department of State¹

New Delhi, July 17, 1955—8 p.m.

102. Re Paris niact 10 received Delhi 1 p.m. July 16.² I saw Nehru 5:45 p.m. same day and delivered message.

He had been informed by Communist Chinese and UK. Told me message from Chinese Communists received by him after our talks July 14. Nehru read applicable parts of Chinese message and copied for me a portion which is substantially same as that sent Washington.

Nehru seemed pleased with Chinese Communists acceptance but called my attention to following excerpt: “British Government thinks this proposal is most useful. We are prepared to agree to this proposal. But it must be pointed out that contact between China and US at a higher level should in no way be made to hamper but to facilitate continued rendering of good offices by India, Soviet Union and UK for improvement of relations between China and US”.

Prime Minister proceeded describe Communist Chinese message as “rigamarole” and quoted ChiComs on following points: (1) Chinese Communists noted there had been no reciprocation by United States after release of four US prisoners; (2) referred to Chinese students stating date fixed by US for students decision return Communist China was limited and therefore US statements regarding their freedom to return had no practical meaning; (3) complained Hammarskjoeld’s activities saying they appeared to be threats. At last point Nehru again suggested some US gesture respecting Chinese students along lines suggested by him and set forth in Embtel 81 repeated London 8.³

As I was leaving Nehru said he was very pleased with President’s Washington message re Summit talks, saying it was a “great speech.”⁴

Cooper

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 703.00/7–1755. Secret; Niact. Repeated for information to Geneva for the Secretary, and to London.
2. Telegram 10 from Paris to New Delhi, for the Ambassador from the Secretary, sent to the Department as Dulte 5, July 15, transmitted the text of the Chinese message of July 14 and instructed Cooper to inform Nehru. (Ibid., 611.93/7–1555) For text of the Chinese message, see Document 302.
3. See footnote 4, ibid.
4. Apparent reference to a radio and television address given by the President on July 15 before his departure for Geneva; for text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1955, pp. 701–705.