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  4. Document 11

11. Telegram From Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson to the Department of State1

Geneva, August 7, 1955—11 a.m.

335. Hammarskjöld called on me this morning to give account call Wang made on him Saturday morning. Wang delivered written message from Chou2 thanking Hammarskjöld for his last message [Page 19] stressing release flyers not because UN resolution or UN pressure, expressing disturbance at “propaganda” on UN role, stressing desire maintain “personal” contact with Hammarskjöld, and intimating desire Hammarskjöld play go-between role in my negotiations with Wang. Hammarskjöld transmitting copy to New York for delivery Lodge.

Wang then went on with oral presentation concerning now is time for deeds (inferentially by U.S.—not clear whether this element also included in written message). Wang then laid entire stress on representation as issue as field in which “deeds” expected indicating some flexibility in choice of country and exact formula.

Hammarskjöld said in reply he stressed he could not and would not play any “go-between” role but willing do anything he properly can as “third-party”.

I outlined to Hammarskjöld exact situation on Chinese students, assurances I had given ChiComs this regard, expectation performance ChiComs with respect Americans to equalize situation, problem we faced on representation and our present thinking this regard. He expressed full understanding.

Hammarskjöld thinks that as “Menon channel has not produced anything” Chou now hopes use him. My feeling, which I did not state to Hammarskjöld, is that Chou hopes to continue playing both lines.

[Johnson]
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–755. Confidential.↩
  2. Telegram 112 from New York, August 15, transmitted the text of Chou’s letter to Hammarskjöld, August 4, a copy of which Hammarskjöld had sent to Lodge that day along with a memorandum of his conversation with Wang. The letter stated in conclusion that the Chinese Government had already acted in a way which would facilitate positive results from the Sino-American talks and that Chou hoped Hammarskjöld would persuade the American side to respond also by deeds. (Ibid., 611.93/8–1555) A copy of Hammarskjöld’s memorandum of his conversation with Wang, dated August 14, is ibid., UNP Files: Lot 58 D 742, American Fliers in China—General Correspondence II.↩