580. Telegram 1797 from Geneva1
Geneva, April 19, 1956, 2
p.m.
1797. From Johnson.
- 1.
- One hour 40 minute meeting this morning. After Wang refused my invitation to open, I opened with prepared statement making points contained paragraph 2 Department telegram 1892 and at end presenting second revision December 21 counter-proposal.
- 2.
- After 15 minute recess requested by Wang he made “preliminary” remarks characterizing
draft as changed in form but content same. Did not feel that it
represented any new progress. Made three points:
- (A)
- Their position self-defense clause should be deleted not re-positioned.
- (B)
- Taiwan area reference not in context Foreign Ministers meeting as per October 27 draft.
- (C)
- Present Taiwan area reference confuses international and domestic issues to which they are “persistently opposed”. However, will “study draft as a whole” and comment detail next meeting. In [Typeset Page 923] order avoid freezing positions I refrained from extensive rebuttal and urged careful study of draft which I felt fully met both points of view.
- 3.
- I then made statement on implementation in accordance paragraph 1 Department telegram 1892. He replied along similar lines. In meeting today slight reference our failure account for Chinese prisoners, and asserting announcement covered all nationals both countries and not just Chinese students, he gave me no new names. Kanady medical records being transmitted through Red Cross but records on Bradshaw not available as she obtained medical care on own outside of prison. Charged we using alleged insufficiency information on Yuan Jui’Hsiang as “pretext” to avoid accounting on all 49 his names.
- 4.
- Next meeting Thursday April 26.
- 5.
- Proceeding Prague tomorrow morning, returning Tuesday.
Gowen
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/4–1956. Confidential; Limit Distribution.↩