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

86. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, at Geneva¹

Washington, October 29, 1955—5:10 p.m.

1053. For Johnson. Also for the Secretary. Guidance for November 3 meeting.

1. Implementation Agreed Announcement: Note that two of nineteen Americans now released and inform Wang U.S. Government expects this to be followed by expeditious release remainder, as provided in Agreed Announcement. Point out that although PRC has now recognized in principle right of British Chargé to correspond with and visit jailed Americans, he has been subjected to regulations which so circumscribe his freedom of action as to make it impossible carry out effectively his functions under Agreed Announcement.² There is no justification for applying to British Chargé regulations intended for “prisoners’ receiving and corresponding with relatives.” No restrictions imposed on Indian Ambassador in carrying out his functions under Agreed Announcement in US. Call Wang’s attention to specific regulations which interfere with Chargé’s functions such as prohibition on speaking to prisoner about his case which would prevent investigation facts provided for in Agreed Announcement.

2. Unaccounted for military personnel: present lists again, using argumentation similar last meeting, emphasizing this unquestionably an issue between us and therefore appropriate subject for inclusion in talks. Additional material individual cases being forwarded. Prepare ground for possibly reading lists to Wang next meeting if he still refuses accept.

3. Renunciation of force: Again reject Wang’s allegations that U.S. occupying Taiwan, violating UN Charter, etc. Inform him that although PRC’s willingness to consider renunciation of force is contribution to progress of talks, his draft statement unacceptable. It completely avoids main issue, which is that both sides renounce use of force, with particular reference to Taiwan area. Paragraphs 2 and 3 deal exclusively with renunciation of force in international disputes and Wang has clearly indicated PRC would not consider itself prevented by these provisions from using force against Taiwan. Whatever language chosen for declarations must be applicable to situation, which one party considers solely domestic issue and other does not. Both must pledge not to use force in this situation, except defensively. Paragraph 5 introduces extraneous subject, Foreign Ministers Conference, which as previously pointed out, not considered suitable subject for discussion these talks.

4. In view information contained Deptel 1052³ endeavor discuss our draft (Deptel 915)⁴ with Secretary and Phleger with view introducing it as counter proposal at Nov. 3 meeting.

Hoover

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/10–2955. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted in CA, cleared by McConaughy, cleared in draft by Sebald, and approved by Robertson.
2. Telegram 1031 to Geneva, October 28, informed Johnson and Dulles that Vice Minister Chang told O’Neill on October 26 that he and his staff might visit and correspond with the imprisoned Americans in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, which included the limitation of visits to each prisoner to 30 minutes on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, the requirement that prison interpreters should be present, and the prohibition of conversation concerning the prisoner’s case. (Ibid., 611.93/10–2855)
3. Telegram 1052 to Geneva, October 29, informed Johnson and Dulles of a conversation the day before between Premier Chou En-lai and O’Neill concerning the Sino-American Ambassadorial talks and the American prisoners in China. Chou declared that the provisions of the agreed announcement should be carried out without further discussion at Geneva, that the Chinese had already given the United States a list of all U.S. nationals in China, and that the question of missing Americans from the Korean war did not fall within the scope of the Geneva talks. The U.S. proposal for a statement on renunciation of force would not settle the questions at issue, he maintained; the question of removal of tensions in connection with Taiwan should be discussed by the two Foreign Ministers. Since the Americans desired a joint statement, however, he said, the Chinese had put forward a draft. He gave O’Neill a copy to send to Macmillan, saying that he had given copies to Molotov and Nehru and suggesting that it might be one of the bases for discussion by the Foreign Ministers at Geneva, if they should touch on Far Eastern problems. He declared that it should be possible to reach agreement on this and that if the Ambassadorial talks should drag on much longer, it would appear that the United States was not willing to agree. O’Neill referred to the two Americans who were being allowed to leave and expressed disappointment that there were only two, commenting that at that rate it might take over a year to solve the problem. He expressed the hope that the process could be speeded up. Chou, apparently very irritated, interrupted to say that O’Neill was being unfair; it was not a matter of arithmetic but of politics. He pointed out that 37 Americans had been allowed to leave since July and contrasted the small number of Americans in China with the number of Chinese in America. (Ibid., 611.93/10–2955)

4. Telegram 915 to Geneva, October 18, transmitted to Johnson for comment a draft declaration on renunciation of force which reads as follows:

   “Agreed Announcement of the Ambassadors of the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China.

   “The Ambassadors of the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China in the discussion of the practical matters at issue between the two sides have agreed to announce the following declarations:

   “Ambassador Wang Ping-nan informed Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson that:

   “In general, and with particular reference to the Taiwan area, the People’s Republic of China renounces the use of force, except in individual and collective self defense.

   “Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson informed Ambassador Wang Ping-nan that:

   “In general, and with particular reference to the Taiwan area, the United States renounces the use of force, except in individual and collective self defense.” (Ibid., 611.93/10–1855)