740. Letter 48 from Johnson to McConaughy1
Just a very brief note late tonight in the hope that I will have a reply from Wang early tomorrow morning on the postponement of the meeting. (I have just drafted a telegram letting you know the status as of tonight.) I felt November 15 was as far as I could safely shoot for and it is evident that even this date has thrown them into something of a spin as I still have no reply. I take it that it is not the intent of the Department that I build this up into too big an issue, and, if he doesn’t agree will have to play it by ear.
I had thought of trying to handle the whole matter of postponement from Prague, but as I was very anxious to go over the summary and history of the talks decided that I must come down here to do that if they were to be gotten off to you in this week’s pouch which leaves [Facsimile Page 2] tomorrow. I was and still am confident nothing dramatic is imminent there.
We have had to work very hurriedly on these today in the expectation I will be able to leave for Prague early tomorrow, and to connect with tomorrow’s pouch. It was physically impossible to recopy all of the White Paper in its revised form in time for tomorrow’s pouch. I am therefore enclosing with this letter only the major revisions with an indication as to where they are inserted and the full revised copy will be sent in Sunday’s pouch.
I think that with a few minor changes it would be possible to use the article we have done for Current Foreign Relations as a substitute for the original summary section of the White Paper. Of course, this somewhat depends on the audience to whom we are primarily directing the White Paper. You will note that in our Foreign Relations article we have struck the note that in spite of their failures, the talks did accomplish something and it was therefore a good idea to hold them. This may be very good for some audiences but it inevitably tends to give the Chinese Communists something on the credit side of their ledger. One could make the approach that the talks were a complete failure because of Chinese Communist intransigence, but it seems to me this tends to impugn the wisdom of holding them. I have tried to preserve a [Facsimile Page 3] balance between extremes here, but undoubtedly Walter and the Secretary will want carefully to consider particularly the note [Typeset Page 1232] struck in the opening paragraphs. In any event I know all of you back there will also have many suggestions for improvements. I think it would be well for you to have someone not too familiar with the talks to read the White Paper draft to test reactions. I realize that time may well not permit, but if possible I would appreciate an opportunity to comment on any major substantive changes. I will have a copy with me in Prague.
Thursday morning.
No word yet this morning. In order to give credence to necessity my being in Prague tomorrow am leaving this morning. Am returning by car as in any event would be impossible obtain plane until tomorrow morning.
Regards to all,
Sincerely,
American Ambassador
Encl.
Major revisions of draft White Paper on Talks.
- Source: Department of State, Geneva Talks Files, Lot 72D415. Secret; Official–Informal. Johnson signed the original “Alex.”↩