162. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant (Adams) to the Acting Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- Meeting with Krishna Menon and Ambassador Mehta on March 19, 1956.2
The purpose of the meeting seemed to center upon the suggestion made by Krishna Menon that overtures should now be made toward a meeting between the Communist Chinese Government and the Americans. The rationale of the suggestion was based on the desirability of exploratory discussions toward the resumption of diplomatic and trade relations.
Prompted by a reference to the possibility of the Formosan question being raised, it was readily admitted that the matter would unquestionably come up, but that the inclusion of Chiang Kai-shek in any such meeting was an obstacle which ought not to be permitted to intervene.
In answer to my emphasis upon the showing by the Chou En-lai Government of good faith and the willingness and ability to support and maintain guaranties and commitments respecting Far Eastern territorial integrities and like questions, Menon made the statement that those were precisely the points that the Chinese themselves raised in their discussion of possible negotiations. The purpose of any such conference in Menon’s mind was designed principally to show that a [Page 334] meeting could develop both solutions and good will. In answer to my questions he suggested such a meeting could be held in Vienna, and would be attended by Chou En-lai and a Presidential designee. He thought the Secretary of State would doubtless be too much engaged.3
The Indian Ambassador spoke of the Nehru visit.4 Apparently he wished to convey that the change in Nehru’s plans had been brought about only with considerable effort.
No mention of nuclear tests or disarmament was made, and German reunification came up only with perfunctory reference, mainly by Menon’s reference to the fact that he had never believed that the Soviets should oppose free discussions between the peoples of divided Germany.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95/3–1956. Personal and Confidential. Hoover conveyed a copy of this memorandum to the Secretary under a covering memorandum on March 21. (Ibid.)↩
- Hoover indicated, in the covering memorandum noted in footnote 1 above, that the meeting was held at the suggestion of the Indians.↩
- In letter No. 26 to McConaughy, March 28, Johnson wrote from Geneva that he was not surprised to learn of Menon’s proposal, which he was inclined to think “is genuine and not just a brainchild of Krishna’s”. He added, “I have thought all along that they want to do business with us, on their terms of course, but they find our terms on renunciation of force too hard for them”. Johnson saw the proposal as an attempt to get easier terms from the United States by bypassing the Department of State. McConaughy replied in letter No. 36 to Johnson, April 2, that he had discussed the Menon proposal with the Secretary: “His reaction was that the move was probably an effort by the Chinese Communists to take an intermediate step in the direction of an eventual Foreign Ministers Meeting. His off-hand reaction was that we had nothing to gain by assenting to Krishna Menon’s suggestion, and that we would be walking into a trap if we did.” Johnson agreed, in letter No. 27 to McConaughy, April 8, that the United States should not accept Menon’s proposal. (All three letters are in Department of State, Geneva Talks Files: Lot 72 D 415, Geneva—Correspondence Re US–PRC, 1955–1956)↩
- Reference is to a proposed visit to the United States by Nehru tentatively scheduled for July. The visit did not take place until December.↩