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

73. Telegram 470 to Geneva¹

Washington, August 12, 1955

470. For Johnson.

Your 402 and 417. Department reaction is Wang draft

1. represents no basic advance over Chinese Communist position of 1954 on detained Americans. Cases all detained Americans are classified by Communists as criminal or civil, and there is still no commitment to release them until QUOTE settlement UNQUOTE to Communist satisfaction.

2. Provision for QUOTE Investigation upon request of Government UNQUOTE would destroy strictly limited nature contemplated representation arrangement by making it possible for CPR through Indian Embassy request investigation of and make representations regarding unlimited numbers Chinese in US.

Other objections exist in matters of detail but they are secondary to these basic objections which disqualify proposal.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–1155. Secret; Priority; Niact. Drafted by McConaughy. The time of transmission is illegible.