71. Telegram 428 from Geneva1
428. From Johnson.
Deptel 466 just received 2:35 p.m. due to overloaded code facilities here.
1. Believe form should be unilateral simultaneous declarations agreed in advance and issued here as suggested my 317 [417].
2. Do not see necessity for phrase “if desired by CPR” in para 2(A).
3. Believe desirable particularly on behalf Americans in China retain element of investigation validity complaint suggested in my original presentation.
4. Believe 90 day limit as presently worded not (repeat not) desirable as carries erroneous implication that at end 90 days US may no longer be willing permit departure Chinese aliens. If 90 day limitation considered necessary believe should be limited to para two.
5. Para 5 would tend destroy our present bargaining position in using representation agreement as cheese to obtain Americans and would not be necessary under concept in para one above. CHICOMS could well fully subscribe this agreement and continue hold Americans whom they allege have committed crimes or have unsettled claims.
Do not believe it necessary or desirable submit counter proposal tomorrow. Believe we require further time for careful study [Facsimile Page 2] and decision on any counter proposal and at tomorrow’s meeting I can confine myself to debate on CHICOM broadening our proposal, if Department concurs, suggesting form unilateral simultaneous declarations, say we are still studying and will have further observations later. Also will continue press Wang on release Americans along lines I followed at last meeting.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–1255. Secret; Niact.↩