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

98. Memorandum of a Conversation, Geneva, November 13, 1955, 10 a.m.–Noon¹

USDel/MC/45

Geneva, November 13, 1955, 10 a.m. to noon

PARTICIPANTS

• United States
• The Secretary
• Mr. Merchant
• Ambassador Bohlen
• U.S.S.R.
• Mr. Molotov
• Mr. Sobolev
• Mr. Troyanovsky

SUBJECTS

1.

Embargo on Trade with Communist China.

2.

The Tanker Tuapse.

3.

Conference Matters.

4.

Middle East Situation.

1. Embargo on Trade with Communist China.

Mr. Molotov said he would like to discuss the embargo on trade with the Chinese People’s Republic. It was not at all clear what grounds remained for retaining this embargo, and he wondered if it were not time to settle this matter.

The Secretary replied that Mr. Molotov knew we were having talks at ambassadorial level here in Geneva with representatives of the Chinese People’s Republic. This item had been suggested for the agenda and the U.S. had agreed, but up to the present the Chinese representative had not pressed the matter—perhaps, he thought, because on the one hand we were awaiting the prompt fulfillment by the Chinese Communists of their assurances that U.S. citizens in China would have the expeditious right to return home; and possibly on the other hand because they were discussing at present the mutual renunciation of force in the Taiwan area. We had pointed out that our attitude on trade would inevitably be affected by the Chinese Communists’ attitude on the mutual renunciation of force. In any event, it was an item on the agenda and would be discussed if the Chinese representative so desired.

Mr. Molotov said he wished to express his hope that the removal of the embargo would not be held up. The removal of the embargo would have a very favorable effect on the relaxation of tension in the Far East and would promote the development of economic relations between countries in that area. The Secretary said he was glad to take note of Mr. Molotov’s observations.

2. The Tanker Tuapse.

Mr. Molotov said he would like to raise the question of the Soviet tanker Tuapse and its crew which had been forcibly detained on Taiwan. He said twenty of the crew had not been released, and since the U.S. had certain responsibilities in that part of the world and maintained naval patrols in that area, he felt that the U.S. was in a position to do something about this.

The Secretary replied that as Mr. Molotov knew, the U.S. had used its good offices, as a result of which all members of the crew who wished to return to the Soviet Union had now done so. He said we could not, of course, by force compel anyone to return, nor could we use our good offices to that end, since it would be contrary to our principles. Insofar as the tanker was concerned, he could not remember exactly, but he believed we had also used our good offices, but up to the present without result.

Mr. Molotov said he would like to state the following: For over a year, all forty-nine members of the crew had been held in Taiwan, allegedly on the grounds that none of them wished to return. But, by the great efforts they themselves had made, twenty-nine had finally been permitted to return home. He said they had grounds to believe that the other twenty would like to return also but were being forcibly detained. He also wished to draw the attention of the U.S. Government to the illegal detention of the Soviet tanker, in an area which was under the protection of the U.S. Fleet.

The Secretary said that on his last visit he had urged President Chiang Kai-shek to release all members of the crew who wished to return home. He felt that as a result of this plea the men who desired to return had done so, and he did not believe the remaining twenty were being held in any way against their will. He said, however, that on his return to Washington he would be glad to look into the matter.

Mr. Molotov said he wished to thank the Secretary for his statement.

. . . . . . .

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 60 D 627, CF 584. Secret. Extract. Drafted by Bohlen on November 17. The portion of the document not printed here is scheduled for inclusion in the compilation on the Geneva Foreign Ministers Conference in a forthcoming volume.