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

247. Telegram 793 from Geneva¹

Geneva, September 28, 1955

793. From Johnson.

1. I am strongly opposed to general approach as well as entire tone of draft statement contained Deptel 790. It might be useful as public propaganda document, I might well use some of the material it contains in the give and take of debate, but as an initial approach to subject it cannot produce any favoarble results. It could only result in a retrogression to Panmunjom rhetoric which I have thus far been successful in avoiding here and prejudice attainment of our other objectives in these talks.

2. As suggested para 4 Mytel 777 it seems to me that to base our approach primarily on implementation of armistice logically leads opening other aspects of armistice and starting us down a road on which armistice tends become bilateral PRC-US matter rather than UN matter.

3. Subject is at best difficult handle constructively but it seems to me that type of approach I have had in mind less subject to foregoing difficulties. We know some of 450 as well as others subsequently released at Panmunjom were at one time in PRC, we know Downey and Fecteau were produced after long months of silence, it is perfectly natural and clearly a bilateral PRC-US matter to ask whether any of 450 are now in territory under their control or whether they know anything about them.

4. Will submit draft for Department’s approval.

Gowen

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–2855. Secret; Limited Distribution.