41. Telegram From Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson to the Department of State1
623. My summary tel 6162 on today’s meeting may not have made it as clear as I might have that Wang and I both came much closer than any time previously to taking “final positions” from which we could not retreat and logical results of which could only be willingness lead up to point of break. I repeatedly used terms “vital”, “essential”, “far as we can go”, et cetera but avoided going to next and logical point of saying unless he met my position on this nothing further talk about. He spoke with some emotion and probably even greater finality than I, but also avoided going next step.
At today’s meeting thinking underlying ChiCom position clearly emerged as follows: US proposed these talks thereby “improving relations” and enabling ChiComs release flyers. This was expected further “improve relations” leading to response by US of agreeing third [Page 66] party arrangement which in turn would enable ChiComs release further Americans. If talks continued go well and “relations continued improve” all remaining Americans could be released. They reconcile this with Chou’s statement on grounds expectation “progress” would be made these talks. They do not attach much real importance what we have done re Chinese in US, nor have they ever attempted directly link future rate departure Chinese in US with departure Americans. Their raising issue Chinese in US is largely to construct “straw man” and give basis for exploiting opening wedge Indian representation might constitute for them.
While not prominent in today’s meeting their sensitivity to anything they interpret as “responding to pressure” and their desire maintain appearance of “legality” are also still factors. However question “understanding” on jurisdiction and scope representation arrangement was not raised today by Wang and, of course, I did not mention subject. He may still do so but believe he may now have dropped this although his rewording of paras 2 (a) both sections may be intended broaden arrangement so that ChiComs could request India “investigate facts” any case.
See little I can do next meeting except reiterate our position and discuss remaining points disagreement in “draft agreed announcement”. However I have little hope of making any progress on major substantive issue.