Office of the Historian

578. Memorandum of Conversation, Hill, Robertson, and Members of Congress1

Washington, April 16, 1956
[Facsimile Page 1]

SUBJECT

  • Proposed Investigation by Dodd Subcommittee of Mistreatment of Americans in China

PARTICIPANTS

  • Robert C. Hill, Assistant Secretary, H
  • Walter S. Robertson, Assistant Secretary, FE
  • Rep. Thomas J. Dodd (D-Connecticut)
  • Rep. Clement J. Zablocki (D-Wisconsin)
  • Rep. Lawrence H. Smith (R-Wisconsin)
  • Rep. John Jarman (D-Oklahoma)
  • Rep. Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia)
  • Rep. J. L. Pilcher (D-Georgia)
  • Ralph N. Clough, Deputy Director, CA

Mr. Robertson expressed his complete agreement with the objectives of the Subcommittee in desiring to investigate mistreatment of American citizens in Communist China. It was purely a question of tactics and timing that he wished to discuss with them. He reviewed the past negotiations with the Chinese Communists for the release of Americans, beginning in June 1954 pointing out that 52 Americans had been released as a result. However, 13 Americans remained in jail in Communist China and we were still engaged in protracted and tedious negotiations to bring about their release. It was obvious that the Chinese Communists hoped to obtain political concessions in exchange for release of these persons, but we had made no concessions and were determined not to do so. We saw no other way to bring about the release of our citizens than to continue to negotiate. We believed that an investigation by the Subcommittee at this time might be counterproductive and therefore hoped that the Subcommittee would delay its investigation. Furthermore, we considered it highly desirable to employ all available material on mistreatment of Americans in Communist China at the psychological moment when it would have the greatest effect. We had a carefully prepared report on this subject, covering 157 cases of Americans who had been imprisoned as well as other material but we did not intend to release this now. It should be released as part of a carefully planned campaign with a clearly defined objective rather than dissipated little by little in an uncoordinated manner.

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Members of the Subcommittee said that their primary concern was the increasing tendency toward accommodation with Communist China which they had noted both in the US and abroad. They were worried that Communist China might be admitted to the UN. They regarded the proposed Subcommittee investigation as a useful means of reminding the American people of the true nature of the Communist regime in China. The question was raised as to whether there would ever be a time when we would not have some American behind the Iron Curtain for whose release we were negotiating. Members of the Subcommittee emphasized the need for constant repetition of Communist China’s misdeeds since people had a tendency to forget. They did, however, express great respect for Mr. Robertson’s views and promised to give them most careful consideration. They asked for an estimate as to when the Americans might be released and the investigation carried on without any adverse effects.

Mr. Robertson stated emphatically that he knew of no softening towards the Chinese Communists among responsible officials of this Government or within Congress. He repeated the statements which the President had made to Prime Minister Eden. With respect to the question of timing, he said it was impossible to judge how soon the Communists might move on releasing the prisoners.

The members of the Subcommittee expressed their appreciation for Mr. Robertson’s presentation. They indicated that they all shared his strong opposition toward any softening of our policy towards Communist China. Chairman Dodd said that as soon as Mrs. Church and Mr. Jackson returned, in the next day or two, the Subcommittee would meet and decide what action to take concerning the investigation.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/4–1656. Confidential. Drafted by Clough.↩