49. Telegram 364 from Geneva1
364. From Johnson.
With close yesterday’s meeting we have completed presentation our position on civilians and next move is up to CHICOMS. I feel my instructions have enabled me to establish very strong position which has put CHICOMS on defensive and in future meetings plan largely to reiterate position as necessary. I believe we should stand on position performance by CHICOMS re Americans essential to agreement on representation proposal and that agenda proposed by CHICOMS and accepted by US precludes discussion any other matter until civilian problem resolved.
If I get no performance on Americans I plan at appropriate time to suggest fairly prolonged recess “to give them time to give further consideration to cases Americans” thereby reinforcing position on relation their performance on Americans to representation arrangement.
One of decisions we will have to make is what degree of performance on Americans we will consider sufficient for agreement on representation. I do not believe we can or should reach this decision now.
Another decision is whether we will be willing to broaden representation proposal to include inquiries by Indian Embassy initiated by “parents and relatives” in China. I expect Wang will at minimum press very hard for something this nature. This raises obvious problems but it seems to me that even under our present concept it will in fact be very difficult prevent or refuse “humanitarian” requests from Indian Embassy do this. If this case should obtain from it whatever negotiating advantage [Facsimile Page 2] it gives us here, it does not seem to me this would increase danger of use of families for coercion as even under present circumstances families free write to Chinese in US. Would also think Indian Embassy would be very careful avoid giving any basis for charges it was agent for coercion. From standpoint UK protection Americans in China it also gives US something of much more value than present formulation.
I plan present list 461 American POW’s missing from Korean War and 11 Navy and Coast Guard personnel as first item under “other practical matters”.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–955. Confidential; Priority.↩