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

722. Letter 45 from Johnson to McConaughy¹

Letter No. 45

Geneva, September 22, 1956

Dear Walter:

Well the 58th meeting is over. There is not much to add to what I have said in my telegrams. Their exchange proposal is obviously designed to produce something having more public appeal than trade. Based on the reaction to the correspondents’ question they probably estimate it will even obtain considerable response in the U.S. I, therefore, look to their releasing it as quickly as they can complete the basis for doing so.

We have been speculating on what they might next try along this line. It has occurred to us that one possibility would be a proposal from them for a technical arrangement, understanding, or something else of this nature to avoid such incidents as the shooting down of the Naval patrol plane. This has many possible ramifications which would lend themselves to exploitation by them if we refused to consider it.

Wang’s tone at today’s meeting was that of injured innocence, trying to make it as hard as he could for me to take a tough line. You will see that he did not even mention Chinese in the U.S.

I suppose our telegrams crossed with regard to their press release yesterday, but I was happy to see we were in entire agreement. I was under considerable pressure to say something here on it, but decided not to do so as it did not contain anything new that required immediate correction, they fairly accurately representing the fact that we had refused to discuss trade. Also, I had previously told you I was not going to put out anything here. Although I had said this on the assumption I would be in Prague when the release was made, I feared I might cross wires with the Department. I also thought it was such a dud of a statement that it would only serve to build it up if I did say anything.

However, I still feel they are building toward a major move around election time, and that a continuation of the present trend will at least result in their terminating or suspending the talks shortly after the elections as a means of attempting to bring increased pressure on us.

Thanks very much for the full information on the prisoner interviews contained in your letter of Sept. 13. I thoroughly agree that the Red Cross seems to have done an excellent job and I have all the material necessary to exploit and defend the results.

I suppose it will be some time until we know the results of the efforts to send reading material to the remaining prisoners but will be interested in hearing when we know.

I thoroughly agree with para 8 of Col. Monroe’s interesting memorandum on his talks with the MAC. As far as practical results are concerned we cannot expect to obtain anything more here than what I have already obtained, that is, renewal of discussion in the MAC. It seems to me the most promising line of action is the suggestion that a sub-group of the MAC fully armed with every available fact on every individual undertake a straight-forward case by case approach to each individual.

I have sent you the memo of my conversation with Senator Mansfield. As you will see nothing unusual or difficult developed.

As I feel confident there will not be any move on their part before the next meeting I am suggesting that Dave and Helenka make their trip to Prague during the interval, and they will probably do so.

[text not declassified]

Regards to all,

Sincerely,

U. Alexis Johnson
American Ambassador

1. Source: Department of State, Geneva Talks Files, Lot 72D415. Secret; Official–Informal. Johnson signed the original “Alex.”