117. Telegram 598 to Geneva1
598. For Johnson. Your 564 and 566.
We are telegraphing separately, with view to its introduction by you at August 23 meeting, full text of “agreed announcement” as it has now evolved (with drafting changes which we consider essential) and request your immediate concurrence or comments.
You will note from this revised draft that U.S. and PRC sections on repatriation not exactly parallel. This is reflection of fact that PRC so far unwilling to match our position. We feel announcement should state our position accurately. We would naturally welcome matching statement PRC. If they still refuse, deviation from parallel language seems unavoidable.
In general we do not desire any private agreements which add to or subtract from “agreed announcement” or which provide anything other than reasonable interpretation of it. On this basis we perceive no justification for “understanding” on jurisdiction question raised by Wang. [Facsimile Page 2] Assuming communists unwilling go beyond compromise language on repatriation contained in our draft text “agreed announcement”, you should insist on understanding which would contain reasonable interpretation of time limit, i.e. “promptly” for completion of review of cases of detained Americans as stated Deptel 569. No objection language quoted latter part paragraph 3 your 564.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–2055. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Sebald and McConaughy; cleared in substance by Dulles.↩