428. Letter 20 from Johnson to McConaughy1
Thanks very much for your letter of December 16. I have just come back from and finished dictating the summary of our meeting today [Typeset Page 624] and as you will see, things got fairly tight and sticky. However, the most excellent instructions contained in the Dept.’s 1410 I think exactly fitted the siutation and enabled me to finish up with no serious losses. (Incidentally, the Dept.’s. 1410 was a model of drafting fully covering the situation and I was completely clear in all the points contained.) It will be noted that at today’s meeting I deliberately avoided attempting to pick up and answer all his points and being drawn into discussion of other topics. It left me with a somewhat unsatisfactory feeling at the meeting to do this but I feel that overall it worked out well.
As I said in my summary telegram, I do not believe that his threat at today’s meeting was to break the talks but rather to go to the public. However, I am not absolutely positive on this and thought it well for you to immediately have his exact words. I naturally did not want to show too much worry or concern by attempting to get him to clarify at today’s meeting. Fortunately I had made my statement on discussion of his December 1 draft prior to his making this statement. Otherwise I feel that it would have [Facsimile Page 2] been impossible for me to make my statement. I have difficulty in interpreting the reason he made his statement after my statement except in the light of an assumption that they were prepared to go to the public today if I had said nothing on their draft and that my statement left him in a somewhat half-way position which he felt that his instructions required him to make the statement. They were all somewhat nervous at the beginning of today’s meeting and at the close of his opening prepared statement and I had a feeling that they were building up to something.
However, we now have a respite until January 12 and I know that good use will be made of the time back there to think through our future course. As you can appreciate it would be most helpful for me to have all the background guidance possible.
I think it likely that their present estimate of the situation is that our only interest is in obtaining the release of all of the Americans and that if and when this is accomplished we will be quick to cut off any further negotiations. I feel that our future moves should take account of this probable estimate on their part.
Thanks for the quote from Nehru which I am sure I will be able to put to good use.
Dave is now making and will send you a copy of the original Chinese text of Wang’s letter of September 16 and all of his December 1 draft Agreed Announcement. I sent you all of the substantive portion of his draft by telegraph.
With respect to the proposed information campaign my principal thought is that the decision as to whether or not such a campaign should be carried on officially by the U.S. Government must be carefully related to our overall objectives with regard to these talks and [Typeset Page 625] our relations with Communist China. I think we have to carefully distinguish between a campaign bearing the official imprimatur of the Government and articles and stories appearing in private publications. An official campaign will probably be interpreted by our own people as well as other countries, and the Chinese Communists, as a prelude to a break in these talks. If such is the [Facsimile Page 3] intent, a campaign of this nature would of course be well suited to the purpose. With regard to Henderson’s memo to Mr. Robertson, I think it would be completely idle to believe that such a campaign would result in expediting the release of imprisoned Americans. It would certainly counter any impression that we are, as the memo phrases it, softening our attitude towards Communist China, and correspondingly reduce whatever capital I believe we have gained by our strong position in proposing these talks and our renunciation of force position. As far as U.S. public opinion is concerned, my own feeling is that it is fully willing without any stimulation to follow and support whatever policies the administration believes best. It is only necessary for the administration clearly to enunciate its policies.
I want to make clear that the foregoing applies to an identified official program, and does not imply that I think that we should sit on naturally generated news stories and articles. If Bersohn, for example, has a good story and some magazine desires to publish it, I certainly would not discourage it. In fact I am inclined to think that it would be useful all around. However, I believe entirely different considerations are involved in an official program and that before starting such a program we should be absolutely clear as to our purposes and whether the means will accomplish the purpose.
If the situation in Prague permits, I want to take Pat and Jenifer down to Garmisch for a few days at the New Year and will let you know by telegram from Prague whether I am doing so. Someone will at all times be on watch here in Geneva and will be able to get in touch with me in a matter of hours at the most. It will also be possible for me to get from Garmisch down here by car in six or seven hours. I hope that you will, as in the past, send me at Prague anything you think I should see or have a chance to think about before the next meeting.
I hope that you are able to have a real vacation as you have certainly earned it.
Regards to all.
Sincerely,
American Ambassador
- Source: Department of State, Geneva Talks Files, Lot 72D415. Secret; Official–Informal. Drafted by Johnson who signed the original “Alex.”↩