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

269. Telegram 838 to Geneva¹

Washington, October 6, 1955, 7:16 p.m.

838. For Johnson.

Your 817. Guidance for 20th Meeting Oct. 8.

1. Omission of any reference at next meeting to serious Chinese Communist dereliction in implementation Agreed Announcement would result in failure to reflect our continuous concern at absence any evidence Chinese Communist good faith in last four weeks. It would be inappropriate to conceal our preoccupation with this all-important issue at any meeting while Chinese Communist compliance remains incomplete. We wish keep box score on detained Americans constantly before Wang until all released.

2. However we recognize that repetitive debate on this question at next meeting might be counterproductive. You are authorized to confine your remarks on this subject to a short but emphatic recall of total Chinese Communist non-performance since September 10. Remind Wang that British Charge d’Affaires so far has been entirely unable perform any functions envisaged for him under Agreed Announcement; register our profound dissatisfaction and concern; state that there has been no announcement of release any Americans in last four weeks although QUOTE expeditious UNQUOTE release pledged; and end with observation that we shall continually scrutinize record of Chinese Communist performance or non-performance most closely.

3. After making this brief statement and without insisting on further discussion, you may then proceed with renunciation of force item. Presentation of statement approved. Material for your use in later discussions now being prepared.

4. It is not essential to fix a rigid order of all agenda items under Point Two at next meeting although this may serve as subject for discussion.

5. We have requested Foreign Office to instruct O’Neill to put your three unanswered questions to Chinese Communist Foreign Office through formal approach. Text of our memorandum to British being sent you separately.

6. Meetings only three or four days apart are too frequent. FYI Other demands on Secretary and senior officers Department are so heavy that Geneva developments cannot be appraised and new instructions approved at such short intervals. In future endeavor arrange minimum one week interval.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/10–555. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by McConaughy; cleared in draft by Phleger and by Sebald.