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

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

Geneva, March 22, 1956—3 p.m.

1661. 1. One hour forty minute meeting this morning.² No change whatever.

2. Wang’s opening statement was devoid of any new content and closed with reiteration I choose between their two drafts. In response my last meetings characterization his position as war-like ultimata he made this charge against US citing alleged statement by Air Force Major General Hunter Harris to effect in event outbreak fighting Matsus would be no question but that there would be joint air support.³ I reiterated our position including willingness listen any reformulation essential points our January 12 amendments contrasting with their ultimatum and take it or leave it attitude. Renunciation closed with each of us hoping other would meet position of other at next meeting.

3. I attacked their March 11 statement⁴ as not helpful to negotiations and as containing gross distortions and misstatements of fact including charge we had pretended [prevented?] Indians making statement, I had admitted 32 Chinese detained, etc Also made statement on Father Houle’s sentencing⁵ statement “protesting outrage” US authorities causing death of Daniel Pao⁶ (Pao Che-en) (see FBIS March 15 daily report) who placed under surveillance in 1950 after trying to return and in 1952 “forcibly” sent to sanatorium “on pretense” he had TB and where he “mysteriously” died two months later obviously as result of US “persecution”, [sic] I made vigorous reply characterizing charges regarding Pao as desperate and absurd attempt cover up failure release 13 and characterized ChiCom treatment imprisoned Americans and other foreigners as “barbarous”.

5 [sic]. Meeting closed on this acid and acrimonious note.⁷

6. Next meeting Thursday March 29.

7. Departing for Prague tomorrow morning; returning Tuesday.

[Johnson]

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–2256. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution.
2. The meeting scheduled for the previous week was postponed at the request of Ambassador Wang, who pleaded the press of urgent business in Warsaw. (Telegram 1631 from Geneva, March 13; ibid., 611.93/3–1356)
3. In telegram 1809 to Geneva, March 28, the Department informed Johnson that Wang’s charge grew out of an erroneous quote by the local Chinese press of a statement made by General Harris in Taipei. (Ibid., 611.93/3–2856)
4. On March 11, the Chinese Consulate General in Geneva issued a statement denouncing the U.S. position in the Geneva talks in terms similar to the prior Chinese statement of March 4. (See Document 156) The March 11 statement was reported to the Department in telegram 1621, March 11. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–1156)
5. Father Houle, an American missionary, was tried and sentenced to a long prison term in China on October 30, 1955.
6. Daniel Pao was a Chinese student who came to the United States to study civil engineering at the University of Florida in 1948.
7. In telegram 1663 from Geneva, March 22, Johnson expanded his comments on the meeting: “While there was some indication Wang might be attempting goad me into saying I saw no point in continuing talks given their present position, he did not push hard and made no attempt move further toward break. In accordance pattern last few meetings he did not make any attempt meet my points and rebuffed my efforts draw him into substantive discussion. In general might characterize his attitude today as willingness continue endurance contest and continued unwillingness make slightest move to break deadlock.” (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–2256)