222. Memorandum of Conversation, Richards and Robertson1
SUBJECT
- U.S.-Red China Geneva Talks
PARTICIPANTS
- Congressman James P. Richards
- Walter S. Robertson, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs
Congressman Richards had luncheon today with me at the Carlton Hotel. I briefed him at length on the status of our talks with the Red Chinese in Geneva, explaining the strategy we had followed in the negotiations to date, would follow for the present and intended following in the future, along substantially the same lines as reported in my conversation with Senator George in Vienna, Georgia on yesterday, September 21st.
Congressman Richards heartily approved our position, recommended that we be unyielding in insisting that the British Chargé in Peiping be permitted personal contact with our imprisoned citizens before discussing any subjects under Item 2 of the agenda and further that we insist upon the Communists carrying out the agreement to discuss “practical matters” at the Ambassadorial level without any commitment from us as to a later conference at the foreign ministers level.
Congressman Richards repeatedly emphasized that while he could not speak for the Senate that the House would give overwhelming approval to a firm line at this time.
[text not declassified]
[Facsimile Page 2]Congressman Richards expressed deep appreciation for our courtesy in bringing him up to date on our Geneva discussions and said that we could count upon his full support in the course we were now following. He expressed fear, however, that pressure upon the President by some of our allies and certain groups in this country would be such that we would be tempted to weaken on the strong positions we had heretofore taken on trade, recognition and UN membership.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–2255. Secret. Drafted by Robertson.↩