Office of the Historian

205. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China1

Washington, August 30, 1956—4:14 p.m.

170. Embtel 978.2 Inform Chinese Government U.S. desires position flight of Matador missiles on Taiwan. Missiles will make distinct contribution toward improving defensibility Taiwan and U.S. hopes GRC willing cooperate this project. If GRC agrees in principle, we will make detailed proposal at early date.3

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56393/5–456. Top Secret. Drafted in CA by Douglas N. Forman, cleared in CA by Clough and in FE by Sebald, and approved by Robertson.↩
  2. Document 173.↩
  3. In telegram 209 from Taipei, September 2, the Embassy reported that the Foreign Ministry agreed and welcomed the proposal to position a flight of Matador missiles on Taiwan. (Department of State, Central Files, 711.56393/9–256)↩