511. Telegram 1574 from Geneva1
Geneva, March 1, 1956, 7
p.m.
1574. From Johnson.
Comments today’s meeting.
- 1.
- Department will note from full record today’s meeting Wang no longer making even any pretense of meeting or responding to my arguments.
- 2.
- My analysis their actual present position is that they willing “renounce force” with specific reference Taiwan if we agree Foreign Ministers meeting but they would not consider any such renunciation valid beyond point Foreign Ministers had met and failed achieve peaceful settlement on substantially their terms of “problem of reduction tensions Taiwan area.” It possible they would consider even such a limited renunciation not applicable offshore islands. I do not consider this necessarily implies any immediate intention attack offshores but only that they not willing even in this limited sense bind themselves with respect to them.
- 3.
- Foregoing is of course poles removed from our position on renunciation of force and unless further outside influences are brought to bear on them makes possibility of any agreement on declaration on our terms very remote. Difficult to see how any further progress can be achieved solely on basis discussion in meetings.
Gowen
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–156. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.↩