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

171. Telegram 694 to Geneva¹

Washington, September 8, 1955, 10:59 a.m.

694. For Johnson.

Departments 693. Following is text of talking paper on which Robertson plans to base his background no attribution briefing of press September 10 if Agreed Announcement issued:

QTE The Announcement issued September 10 at Geneva by U.S. Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson and Chinese Communist Ambassador Wang Ping-nan relates to the repatriation of civilians who desire to return to their respective countries. The discussions which resulted in this Announcement required 14 meetings over a span of six weeks. The Announcement means precisely what it says. There are no hidden or ambiguous meanings to be read into it. There are no side understandings or agreements whatever in relation to it.

The United States has consistently recognized in principle the right of Chinese in this country to return to the mainland of China if they so desire. During the Korean War, this right was temporarily suspended as to 129 Chinese students with advanced technical training which could be used against the United States by an enemy. The restraining orders against this small group of Chinese (less than 3% of the Chinese students who have come to this country since 1945) were rescinded before the current Ambassadorial talks at Geneva began, and Chinese who wish to depart from the United States for any destination have been and are free to do so.

WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT DOES SIGNIFY

1. It commits the PRC to permit the civilians expeditiously to exercise their right to return.

2. The Government of India by invitation of the U.S. Government plays a limited role in assisting those Chinese who of their own volition and on their own initiative approach the Indian Embassy in Washington for facilitation of their return to the China Mainland.

3. The Office of the Charge d’Affaires of the United Kingdom with the agreement of the U.S. Government likewise plays a limited role in assisting those Americans who approach it for facilitation of their return to the United States.

WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT SIGNIFY

1. The Announcement does not constitute an Agreement of any kind, governmental or otherwise. The Announcement is in the form of two parallel and interrelated unilateral announcements, the text of which has been mutually agreed upon. The only agreement was that the unilateral announcements were to be made.

2. It does not accord any degree of diplomatic recognition on the part of the U.S. Government to the Chinese Communist regime or change in any way the U.S. position in that regard. The conversations were conducted on the basis stated by Secretary of State Dulles at Berlin in February 1954 when he enunciated the principle that the U.S. Government would be prepared to deal with the Peiping authorities in regard to limited subjects where they are necessarily a party at interest.

3. The Announcement does not give the People’s Republic of China any claim to the allegiance of the Chinese in the United States. The Announcement covers only those Chinese in the United States who voluntarily express a desire to return to the China Mainland. The vast preponderance of the many thousands of Chinese in this country who continue to give undivided allegiance to the Government of the Republic of China are in no way affected.

4. The Indian Government will not be a “Protecting Power” in this country for the Chinese Communists. Other than the limited assistance afforded by the Indian Government to individuals covered by the Announcement, all Chinese interests in this country are the responsibility of the GRC. The Indian Government, as the Announcement makes clear, is assuming its function at the invitation of the Government of the United States. Its role will be limited to facilitating the travel to Mainland China of those Chinese who communicate with the Indian Embassy in Washington in reference to their desire to return to Mainland China. The Indian Embassy will not be expected to make any inquiries with reference to Chinese who do not first communicate with it.

5. The discussions so far have been devoted exclusively to the return of civilians. UNQTE

Hoover

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–855. Secret; Priority. Drafted by McConaughy.