Office of the Historian

87. Telegram From the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State1

London, February 5, 1955—1 p.m.

3470. Eyes only Hoover and President. Greatly appreciate guidance your telegram 4011.2 Based upon President’s message to Congress and his press conference3 and upon Secretary’s off-record briefing of press I have already taken general line referred to your first two paragraphs in all conversations, although I have carefully avoided specific reference to Quemoy and Matsu. I will of course keep President’s views as expressed reference telegram constantly in mind.

I believe as appears from my telegram 34584 that, with possible exception Nehru, all Prime Ministers present at conference are completely in accord with President’s purposes and have absolute confidence in him. Only doubt arises in connection with state of public opinion referred to paragraph three of Menzies’ letter to me. I believe that Eden went as far as he dared in view of opinion here in making following statement in Parliament yesterday (see Embtel 3453):5 [Page 219]

“Nationalist-held islands in close proximity to coast of China are in different category from Formosa and Pescadores since they undoubtedly form part of territory of People’s Republic of China.

“Any attempt by Government of People’s Republic of China, however, to assert its authority over these islands by force would, in circumstances at present peculiar to case, give rise to situation endangering peace and security, which is properly a matter of international concern.”

I believe therefore that Commonwealth Prime Ministers are not so much overlooking factors referred to your telegram 4011 as they are apprehensive of own public opinion as to possibilities of war arising out of situation regarding offshore islands including Quemoy and Matsu.

Aldrich
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/2–555. Top Secret; Niact. Received at 10:32 a.m. Shown to the President by Hoover on February 5, according to a handwritten notation by Goodpaster on a copy of the telegram. (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Administration Series, Aldrich, Winthrop)↩
  2. Document 84.↩
  3. The transcript of the President’s press conference of February 2 is printed in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1955, pp. 223–237.↩
  4. Document 82.↩
  5. Telegram 3453 from London, February 4, transmitted the text of a statement made by Eden that day in the House of Commons, in which he stated the British Government’s view that the de jure sovereignty over Formosa and the Pescadores was uncertain or undetermined and concluded with the paragraphs quoted here. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/ 2–455) The text of the statement is printed in Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, Fifth Series, vol. 536, cols. 159–160.↩