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

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

Geneva, September 22, 1956—11 a.m.

297. Two hour and five minute meeting this morning.² I opened with statement along lines para 1 Deptel 301.³ While reaffirming same line on means liberation Taiwan China’s internal affair his replies were largely pro forma. He did not respond to my subsequent goading him on subject and I obtained nothing new with respect renunciation.⁴ He repeated any further moves renunciation must come from US.

After making brief reference to trade he introduced draft announcement on “mutual contacts and cultural exchange”⁵ attempting take strong offensive throughout remainder meeting this subject, citing US “obstruction”, (Porgy and Bess, Peiping Opera, journalists, Peiping Whitman attendance).

I cited their treatment Americans including officials from time Communist takeover mainland, failure implement Agreed Announcement, and kept coming back to renunciation force and policy hostility threat use force as block to improvement our relations which must be removed before any attempt made deal other problems.

Next meeting Oct. 4. Returning Prague Sunday morning.

[Johnson]

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–2256. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution.
2. The meeting was initially scheduled for September 20, but was postponed until September 22 at Chinese request. (Telegram 279 from Geneva, September 19; ibid., 611.93/9–1956)

3. Paragraph 1 of guidance telegram 301 to Geneva, September 17, reads as follows:

   “Renunciation of force. Again show how our April 19 revision introduces minimum changes Communist December 1 draft which provided reasonable starting point for negotiation although not in itself sufficiently explicit constitute acceptable formulation renunciation of force declaration. These changes were essential to demonstrate to world both sides sincerely willing renounce use of force Taiwan area and pursue objectives by peaceful means only. Characterize Communist May 11 draft as step backward. (FYI After thorough consideration possible reformulation our April 19 revision, we are satisfied our objectives best served by holding to present draft. We consider it strong position on which defend ourselves publicly against Communist propaganda effort. We do not contemplate any revision. End FYI.)” (Ibid., 611.93/9–1756)

4. In letter No. 45 to McConaughy, September 22, Johnson commented that “Wang’s tone at today’s meeting was that of injured innocence, trying to make it as hard as he could for me to take a tough line”. (Ibid., Geneva Talks Files: Lot 72 D 415, Geneva—Correspondence Re US–PRC, 1955–1956)

5. Text of this draft announcement, as conveyed to the Department in telegram 301 from Geneva, September 22, reads as follows:

   “In order promote mutual understanding between peoples China and U.S., in order resume traditional friendship between peoples China and U.S., Ambassador Wang Ping-nan, on behalf government People’s Republic of China, and Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, on behalf government of U.S. of America, agree announce: People’s Republic of China and U.S. of America will adopt measures respectively on their own initiative to eliminate existing barriers interfering with freedom of mutual contacts and cultural exchange between peoples of their two countries.”

   In expanded comments on the meeting in telegram 302 from Geneva, September 22, Johnson noted that he felt that Wang’s proposal on what Wang orally termed “human contacts” and cultural exchange was part of a continuing pattern of attempting to build up a record of “sweet reasonableness.” (Ibid., Central Files, 611.93/9–2256)