762. Telegram 643 to Geneva1
643. Verbatim text. For Ambassador Johnson.
Following UP report yesterday’s date from Washington transmitted for your information. Department has no independent confirmation of quoted statements:
QTE The Indian Embassy has helped some 20 Chinese nationals return to the Communist-held mainland, it was disclosed.
Indian Ambassador G.L. Mehta told reporters that he knew of no Chinese represented by the Embassy who had been barred from leaving the United States by the State Department.
In some instances he said difficulties arose because of the American-born wives or children of the Chinese nationals wanting to leave. But he said a majority of the score or so applicants already have returned to China.
[Typeset Page 1274]The Chinese Communists and the United States government agreed some time ago that India would represent any Chinese who claimed they wanted to leave this country and could not. The British perform the same function for Americans detained in China, ten of whom still are in jail there.
Mehta talked with reporters after visiting Undersecretary of State Herbert Hoover Jr. to discuss the forthcoming Washington visit of Indian Prime Minister Nehru.
His remarks were made when reporters questioned him about a statement [Facsimile Page 2] in Calcutta by Communist Chinese Premier Chou En-lai. Chou said the next move was up to the United States if it wants to get the rest of its nationals out of Red China. UNQTE.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/12–1156. Official Use Only. Drafted by Henderson (FE/P); cleared by McConaughy and in NEA and SOA.↩