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

572. Telegram 1860 to Geneva¹

Washington, April 11, 1956, 7:05 p.m.

1860. For Johnson. Your 426 from Prague.

1. We believe restoration of phrase “to the pursuit by each side of its policies by peaceful means” in paragraph one strengthens our public position and provides you firmer stance from which rebut Wang’s argument US trying trick Chinese Communists into recognizing status quo. Inclusion this phrase makes it unmistakably clear that in draft declaration we seeking only debar use force to alter status quo. Statement in fact reiterates what you have stated in discussions on numerous occasions.

2. We do not envisage use minor changes in wording as negotiating tactic unless at later stage it would appear that such minor textual changes would lead to final agreement. We prefer table text which will give us strongest public position in event break and thereafter avoid proposing minor changes for bargaining purposes.

3. Concur your suggestion place “agree” at beginning clause and “to announce” at end.

4. Your suggestions for revising paragraph 2 are good and would improve it somewhat from our point of view. However, we think this consideration is outweighed by psychological desirability of retaining unchanged as much as possible from Chinese Communist December 1 draft.

5. Re paragraph 3 Urtel, Dept not repeat not prepared authorize deletion reference to “individual and collective self-defense.” Broadness proposed substitute wording would permit Communists interpret so as to nullify their renunciation force pledge. Furthermore deletion of self-defense reference after we have insisted on its retention could be readily misrepresented by Communist side as implying that we have receded from our original position.

6. On basis above considerations, reformulation to be introduced April 19 should be that contained Deptel 1836 with change approved by (3) above.

7. Reformulation will be referred to as “Second US Revision of Chinese Communist December 1 Counterproposal.”

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/4–1156. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Clough and McConaughy; cleared by Sebald and Phleger.