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

186. Telegram 718 to Geneva¹

Washington, September 13, 1955, 7:42 p.m.

718. For Johnson.

Our 717 paragraph 4.

Following is enumeration of US steps in implementation Agreed Announcement.

1. On September 11 Indian Ministry External Affairs informed of Agreed Announcement by American Embassy New Delhi and formally invited assume described role. Indian Ambassador Washington informed September 10.

2. Official press release quoting Agreed Announcement issued by Department 1:00 PM EDT September 10. Press corps Washington specially assembled receive announcement and explanation thereof same hour.

3. Announcement carried in full by all major US wire services including AP, UP, and INS.

4. Announcement constituted leading news item September 11 papers all over US. Circulation American papers Sunday far greater than any other morning of week. Announcement prominently carried US Sunday newspapers numbering nearly 500 with circulation of over 45 million. Verbatim text announcement carried in major newspapers. Substantially all Monday newspapers, numbering over 1,860, with circulation of over 54 million, also gave wide publicity to announcement. See Deptel 714 for further particulars on US press coverage.

5. Agreed Announcement prominently carried all nation wide radio news broadcasts evening Saturday September 10 and all day September 11. Announcement also prominently featured television news programs September 10 and 11.

6. It has been specifically verified that announcement was prominently carried all newspapers in all US cities containing large Chinese population, namely New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington and Boston. Announcement obtained wide coverage in US areas where Chinese students chiefly concentrated, namely Pacific Coast, Mid West, and New England.

7. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice, has been specifically apprised of the Announcement and arrangements made for district directors of all I & NS districts throughout the US be informed of Announcement and of the right of Chinese who express desire return mainland China to communicate with Indian Embassy if they wish to do so.

8. The Indian Government of course is aware that it is always free disseminate any type public information it may desire in US including full information concerning its function under Agreed Announcement, without reference to US Government.

Hoover

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–1355. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by McConaughy and Henderson (FE/P).