Office of the Historian

152. Telegram 658 from Geneva1

Geneva, August 31, 1955, 2 p.m.
[Facsimile Page 1]

658. From Johnson.

Following is text “agreed announcement” which Wang now appears prepared accept. Believe it contains none of undesirable features mentioned Deptel 654 and that we should be able accept it.

“The Ambassadors of the USA and the PRC have agreed to announce the measures which their governments have adopted with respect to return of civilians to their respective countries.

With respect to Chinese in the US, Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, on behalf of the US Government, has informed Ambassador Wang Ping-nan that:

1.
The US recognizes that Chinese in the USA who desire to return to the PRC are now entitled to do so and declares that it has adopted and will further adopt appropriate measures so that they can expeditiously exercise their right to return.
2.
The Government of the Republic of India will be invited to assist the return to the PRC of those Chinese who desire to do so as follows:
A.
If any Chinese in the USA believes that contrary to the declared policy of the USA he is encountering obstruction in departure he may so inform the Indian Embassy in the USA and request it to make representations on his behalf to the US Government. If desired by the PRC the Indian Government may also investigate the facts in any such case.
B.
If a Chinese in the US who desires to return to the PRC has difficulty in paying his return expenses, the Indian Government may render him financial assistance needed to permit his return.
3.
The Government of the US will give wide publicity to the foregoing arrangements and the Embassy of the Republic of India in the USA may also do so.

With respect to Americans in the PRC, Ambassador Wang, on behalf of the PRC, has informed Ambassador Johnson that:

1.
The PRC recognizes that Americans in the PRC who desire to return to the USA are now entitled to do so and declares that it has adopted and will further adopt appropriate measures so that they can expeditiously exercise their right to return.
2.
The Government of the UK will be invited to assist in the return to the US of those Americans who desire to do so as follows: [Typeset Page 194]
A.
If any American in the PRC believes that contrary to the declared policy of the PRC he is encountering obstruction in departure he may so inform the office of the Charge d’Affaires of the UK in the PRC and request it to make representations on his behalf to the Government of the PRC. If desired by the US, the Government of the UK may also investigate the facts in any such case.
B.
If an American in the PRC who desires to return to the US has difficulty in paying his return expenses, the Government of the UK may render him financial assistance needed to permit his return.
3.
The Government of the PRC will give wide publicity to the foregoing arrangements and the office of the Charge d’Affaires of the UK in the PRC may also do so.”

Gowen
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–3155. Confidential; Niact.↩