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

242. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, March 6, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Agreement with Chinese Government to Permit Disposition of Matador Flight on Taiwan and Penghu.

REFERENCE

• Department Circular No. 175.²

In accordance with the provisions of Department Circular 175 of December 13, 1955, I request that you authorize our Embassy at Taipei to negotiate an agreement pursuant to our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Government of the Republic of China which will permit the disposition of a flight of Matador missiles, together with the necessary personnel, on Taiwan and Penghu. The stationing of a flight of Matadors on Taiwan and Penghu would be in accordance with Articles II and VII of the Mutual Defense Treaty (Tab B³).

The Department of Defense has determined that the disposition of a flight of Matadors on Taiwan and Penghu is advisable and would materially strengthen the free world defensive position on these islands, the retention of which in friendly hands has been deemed essential to the security of the United States. From the political standpoint, the disposition of a Matador flight on Taiwan and Penghu would serve our policy objectives by giving further evidence of our determination to assist in the defense of the islands, thereby enhancing the morale of our Chinese allies, encouraging our other Asian allies, and serving as a further deterrent to Chinese Communist aggression. For these reasons, this project was approved in principle, and when brought to the attention of the Chinese, it secured their immediate and enthusiastic oral concurrence.

It is now proposed to secure through an exchange of notes with the Chinese Government more formal arrangements governing the disposition of the Matador flight on Taiwan and Penghu. These arrangements would place the Matador unit and its personnel under the “MAAG umbrella”, pending completion of the status of forces and military facilities agreement now being negotiated at Taipei. Copies of our MDA agreements with China, defining MAAG status, are attached (Tab C⁴).

At the time that this exchange of notes is being negotiated our Ambassador would tell the Chinese that we would not expect them to provide free facilities for this unit other than necessary land, any improvements which might exist thereon and required rights of way. It is desirable to clarify this point with the Chinese, because in the past other non-MAAG units, covered under the “MAAG umbrella”, have mistakenly assumed the Chinese authorities would provide them with the same facilities it provides the MAAG with respect to housing, office space and related items. It was not our intention to request such facilities for other non-MAAG units when they were sent to Taiwan. Defense has so informed the Services and it is advisable to reassure the Chinese on this matter. This position is in conformity with our stand in the status of forces negotiations.

In addition, our Ambassador will provide the Chinese with a copy of the “requirement” for the Matador flight (Tab D⁵), which it is intended will eventually appear as a classified annex to the agreement on status of forces and military facilities now being negotiated.

Recommendations:

That you authorize the Embassy at Taipei to negotiate and conclude a classified agreement covering the Matador unit and its personnel on the basis of the attached draft (Tab A⁶), any changes therein to be approved by the Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs, the Legal Advisor, L/EUR, L/MSA and Defense.

Approved: RM⁷

That you authorize the Embassy to prepare a complete translation of the Chinese text of the agreement, together with a signed memorandum from the responsible officer in the Embassy certifying that the foreign-language text and the English-language text are in conformity with each other and that both texts have the same meaning in all substantive respects.

Approved: RM

1. Source: Department of State, ROC Files: Lot 71 D 517, 1957 Top Secret Matador Project. Top Secret. Drafted in CA by Comiskey and concurred in by L/EUR, L/MSA, L and by OSD/ISA.
2. Department Circular 175, December 13, 1955, outlined the proper exercise of the treatymaking and executive agreement-making powers of the United States. This circular is among a collection of Departmental circulars in the Department of State library.
3. Not found attached. For text of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of China, signed in Washington on December 2, 1954, see 6 UST 433.
4. Not found attached. For text of the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement of 1951, effected by an exchange of notes on January 30 and February 9, 1951, see 2 UST (pt. 2) 1499–1507. The Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement of 1952, effected by an exchange of notes on October 23 and November 1, 1952 is printed in 3 UST (pt. 4) 5166.
5. Attached but not printed. The requirement listed the land and support services which would be necessary for the development of the main facility as well as the support facilities envisioned for the Matador Missile Project on Taiwan.
6. Attached but not printed.
7. Secretary Dulles left Washington on March 6 for Canberra, where SEATO Council meetings were scheduled for March 11–13. In his absence Deputy Under Secretary Murphy acted for Dulles on this memorandum.