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

530. Telegram Secto 43 from Colombo¹

Colombo, March 11, 1956, 10 p.m.

Secto 43. Reference Secto 41.

Following is summary of Chou En-lai memorandum to Nehru, dated March 2 for discussions with Secretary. Johnson-Wang talks concern two principal questions, one implementation of agreement on Nationals, two declaration on peaceful settlement disputes. As regards American Nationals out of 40 prisoners only 13 remain. Cases of remaining are under review. No difficulty exists in case of prisoners. However, as regards Chinese Nationals in US many difficulties have arisen. Out of 5042 students only 156 have so far returned. PRC have list of 3477 names of which 628 wish to come back. US however, have told them permission to return has been given to only 103 students. Of these 31 have still not returned and 3 are missing. Names and addresses of all have been given to Indian Embassy. Chou En-lai mentioned following specific US obstructions: (a) US has taken no action communicating text agreed announcement to Chinese prisoners; (b) have refused to give list of prisoners; (c) Indian Embassy has no facility for communicating agreed announcement to Chinese prisoners; (d) Formosa entry permits and permanent resident permits.

As re declaration on peaceful settlement of disputes the text of the four drafts have been made available to Indians. Last American draft raised two fundamental questions: (a) right of self-defense; (b) specific mention of Formosa area. Under no circumstances could PRC agree to any statement regarding US so-called right of self-defense in Formosa area. Chou En-lai intimated that US might withdraw clause re self-defense in order to insist that Formosa area be specifically mentioned in text. PRC would not object to Formosa being specifically mentioned in draft as one of existing disputes provided Foreign Ministers’ conference also mentioned as agreed method of settling these disputes. Unless US willing accept this compromise declaration should be in general terms as suggested by PRC draft of December 1. Chou En-lai listed three reasons why US insists upon mentioning Formosa while avoiding reference to Foreign Ministers’ conference: (a) they wish to show superficially to world that declaration has softened tension in Formosa area while actually it would freeze situation there; (b) they wish to tide over election year and have no (repeat no) intention of agreeing on Foreign Ministers’ conference; (c) they wish to increase their armed strength in Formosa area under pretext of helping Chiang Kai-shek. Chou En-lai said present American tactics hidden conspiracy to cheat and deceive China. PRC have seen through plot and would not agree to “their designs.” PRC position is that US can accept either of two Chinese drafts: (a) draft of last October or, (b) draft of December 1. In case of US continuing obstructive tactics PRC intends releasing entire proceedings of discussions of second item of agenda.

Following is memorandum given to Cooper for delivery to Nehru re release Nationals: “At time the Johnson-Wang negotiations began in Geneva on August 1, 1955 there were 41 American civilians being detained in China, 29 in prison or under house arrest, and 12 being denied exit permits.

“On September 16 Chinese announced release of the 12 exit-permit cases. Therefore only the 29 prison and house arrest cases were under discussion between Wang and Johnson at the time the agreed announcement was made on September 10. On that day the Reds announced the release of 10 of these imprisoned Americans. This left 19 (18 in prison and one under house arrest) subject to the terms of the agreed announcement.

“Today exactly 6 months after this public commitment was made to expedite the departure of these Americans only 6 of the 19 have been released. The British Charge in Peiping has been able to see only one of the 13 still held and has received letters from only 5 others. He has been unable to establish contact with the remaining 7. In his discussions at Geneva, Wang Ping-nan has virtually admitted that these Americans are being held as political hostages, stating that “review of cases” will be governed by “state of relations” between US and Communist China.

“Our records show that 114 Chinese have returned to the Mainland from the US since our negotiations began on August 1. 102 of this number have returned since the agreed announcement of September 10.

“With reference to Chinese Nationals in the US the Chinese Communists first demands concerned only students. They later asked for list of all Chinese in US thus seeking to establish position of being lawful representative of all Chinese in America.

“All of the approximately 5,000 students in US at time of Communist takeover of Mainland in 1949 held National Government of China passports. The overwhelming majority of these students were and are adherents of the National Government. No exit restrictions were ever imposed except on a small number (approximately 175) during a period beginning with the Red Chinese entry into the Korean War. All restrictions were rescinded in the spring of 1955. At that time the restrictions covered 103. Chou En-lai’s statement that ‘the Chinese Government have ascertained that 628 wish to come back’ and that ‘US Government have, however, told them that permission to return has been given to only 103 students’ is pure fabrication.

“The US Department of State in press release December 16, 1955 publicly invited any person who knows of any Chinese who claims he is being prevented from returning to China Mainland to communicate at once with the State Department or the Indian Embassy. The Indian Embassy has not (repeat not) questioned US compliance with the terms of the agreed announcement and has made no (repeat no) allegations of interference with the departure of any Chinese. Not a single case of a Chinese claiming obstruction has been reported. The so-called ‘Formosa entry-permits’ and permanent resident permits obstructions are nonexistent”.

Attachments: one, agreed announcement September 10, 1955 one copy; two, Department of State press release December 16, 1955.

With regard to 5,000 students it would be helpful to give cooperative breakdown of how many have returned to Mainland over past years insofar as our records cover, indicating how many had returned at US expense.

Please repeat reply to Secretary for attention Robertson.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/3–1156. Confidential.