Office of the Historian

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

Geneva, November 14, 1957—noon.

448. Uneventful one hour meeting this morning. Wang opened with statement on implementation which, together with his replies during give and take, was mildest yet made. Emphasis was on 50 of 56 names given me and 21 of 103 names I had given him not having returned as well as only one prisoner having returned [sic]. Allegations of obstruction based on experiences of those having returned. During course give and take for first time made statement “to say [Page 632] that there is this number of Chinese in US is not same as saying they all desire return or we want them all return.”2

In reply my statement on missing military personnel accordance para 2 Deptel 497,3 he refused enter into discussion stating I well knew their attitude that it was not in terms of reference talks. I, of course, stressed was “practical matter” between us and refusal discuss or attempt ignore problem could not solve it.

Next meeting December 12.

[Johnson]
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/11–1457. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution.↩

  2. In letter No. 76 to Johnson, November 8, Clough commented on the necessity of establishing a time limit for the implementation of the Agreed Announcement of September 10, 1955:

    “In brief it seems to me we have to have a cut-off date beyond which we cannot go in offering Chinese aliens the choice of deportation to Communist China. If we were to make a continuing operation of extending the terms of the Agreed Announcement to Chinese aliens regardless of his date of sentence, we might get into a situation where any Chinese would have carte blanche to commit any crime in the book. Or so it might seem to Justice and to the various State authorities. At the same time, I feel we should not be deprived of our flexibility in this regard, and for that reason I recommended that we not state our position to Immigration and Naturalization Service at this time.” (Ibid., Geneva Talks Files: Lot 72 D 415, Geneva, US–PRC Talks, Misc. Docs. 1956–1957)

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  3. Paragraph 2 of guidance telegram 497 to Geneva, November 12, reads as follows:

    “Express to Wang our deep regret Communist side in MAC at 79th meeting October 22 again refused account for UNC missing personnel. This refusal perform what even Communist side admits is obligation under Armistice Agreement demonstrates anew Chinese Communist contempt for sanctity agreements, as well as disregard humanitarian considerations. State that failure Communist side respond in MAC compels US raise again in Geneva forum. Cite individual cases from list to demonstrate falsification in previous Communist ‘accounting’.” (Ibid., Central Files, 611.93/11–1257)

    In letter No. 61 to Clough, November 14, Johnson noted that he had tempered his instructions on the question of missing military personnel:

    “You will note that I made the tone of my statement on missing military personnel somewhat milder than implied in the guidance telegram. If our purpose is really to get information on these men I still feel it is better with [for?] them and for the record to handle it, particularly in a closed meeting such as this, in that manner rather than simply as a propaganda blast. In any event the people in MAC seem fully capable of exploiting the propaganda blast approach.” (Ibid, Geneva Talks Files: Lot 72 D 415, Geneva, US–PRC Talks, Misc. Docs. 1956–1957)

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