13. Telegram 246 from Geneva1

[Facsimile Page 1]

246. From Johnson.

Further my conversation with Menon this morning.

He again pushed question relaxation trade restrictions qte or some other such gesture unqte but I received impression this may be somewhat more his own idea than that of CHICOMS and that he may also be pushing it with them. Talked about Wang and I arriving at agreement qte in principle unqte in this, details to be left to lower level officers—possibly Consuls Generals in Moscow, Delhi or London. London would be good as CHICOM Consul General there good man. Geneva poor place as CHICOM Consul General here poor negotiator.

Much talk about importance agreement on ForMin meeting, CHICOM desire eventual formal recognition as qte this will add greatly to their prestige unqte, again talk about coastal islands qte which are held by Nationalists only by virtue US support unqte, my [Typeset Page 16] information situation quite not correct as Nationalists are carrying out raids most recently in July and this obviously difficult situation for CHICOMS etc.

CHICOMS interested in internal development and do not want war. Are making great strides, while still behind India work together much better and with more enthusiasm than Indians and before long will pass India. CHICOMS do not like present great dependence on Soviets and want diversify trade to West including US.

Also much talk about not important whether public knew role he and India had played in release Air Force personnel and other developments; qte he and I unqte and China, US and India knew. That was all that counted. India entirely disinterested this aspect, only interest was in helping where they could and when [Facsimile Page 2] they were wanted. Fully appreciated domestic political and public opinion problems faced by Secretary and President. However he had been received in US qte much better unqte this last trip than previously.

He was still fishing hard for invitation stay in Geneva while dropping inconsequential tidbits of his conversation yesterday evening with Wang. He was apparently hoping I had since yesterday asked for and obtained authority from Washington to ask him to stay.

Dept fully aware Menon’s conversational style and difficulty pinning down his exact meaning. I also deliberately refrained from much questioning as I did not desire get drawn into discussion as he was carefully probing for anything he could carry back to Chinese. However I believe foregoing and previous tels represent substantially accurate account.

I did keep coming back CHICOM renunciation use of force but without any immediately apparent constructive result. I did let him know I was planning request some explanation from CHICOMS for 461 personnel still missing from Korean War as well as 11 Navy and Coast Guard personnel missing off Swatow. I went into some detail regarding our efforts this regard MAC and elsewhere. He suggested some agreement send someone China investigate. I said this was not problem—obviously if any other Americans held in China no investigator was going to find them. Only CHICOMS knew whether any these men alive their hands and question was CHICOM good faith in giving us honest and reasonable answer. In reply my flat question he said he did not believe any were alive in CHICOM hands as he could not see any political advantage to CHICOMS in holding them without letting us know they had them. (I think he is right on this.)

I also gave him fairly detailed account CHICOM treatment our Consulates and Embassy in China during period CHICOM take-over taking line in light customary practice during such periods particularly in China as well as elsewhere CHICOMS qte had [Facsimile Page 3] refused recognize US unqte rather than other way around and had made it impossible US [Typeset Page 17] pursue any other policy even if it had desired to do so. This seemed to be new information to him.

I have refused say anything to any correspondents on Menon’s visits.

Because length have not repeated these tels to Cooper but presume Dept will pass as considered desirable.

Gowen
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–255. Secret.