Office of the Historian

191. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State1

Taipei, December 1, 1955—5 p.m.

511. Department’s 322 and Taipei’s 507.2 Quarters interpreting November 29 statement by Tsiang’s spokesman as reply to President Eisenhower, that GRC would veto Outer Mongolia for UN “if necessary”, presumably drew inference from sentence in unfortunate USIA release FEF–57 November 29 which also stimulated spate of [Page 413] stories at this end. Release not published here but GRC, of course, learned of it and local press carried wire service stories incorporating full details with improvements.

Eisenhower’s second message (November 28)3 arrived just prior President Chiang’s departure from Taipei for few days. Substance of message relayed to Chiang orally by Foreign Minister evening of November 29 but full Chinese translation reached him only following morning. He instructed Foreign Minister by telephone to acknowledge message with thanks and to say he would reply shortly. Chiang added that GRC position unchanged but hoped alternative to veto could be worked out.

Foreign Minister today assured me once more of his anxiety to avoid use of veto. However, he regards it as pure “power politics” that Soviets have used veto more than 70 times with impunity while dire effects on GRC are predicted if it uses veto once on excellent historical grounds.

Minister Yeh regretted US had not informed GRC at earlier date that signals being changed to permit more adequate preparation here and in New York. Also he continues to wonder whether US had made commitment to Soviets. Meanwhile, he is working actively on possible means to avoiding veto.

Rankin
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/12–155. Secret; Priority.↩

  2. Telegram 322 to Taipei, November 30, reads: “Chinese UN Permanent Representative Tsiang announced to press New York November 29 that his Government would if necessary veto Outer Mongolia’s admission UN. We assume Generalissimo did not intend that this announcement should constitute reply President’s November 26 message although announcement has been so interpreted in some quarters. Advise soonest.” (Ibid., 310.2/11–3055)

    In telegram 507 from Taipei, November 30, Rankin expressed great concern “at tone of release in USIA bulletin FEF–57, United Nations, NY, November 29, just received entitled ‘UN Membership Solution Threatened by Republic of China.’” Rankin stated that he considered this bulletin “highly inappropriate for USIS dissemination in Far East and have forbidden use in Taiwan”, adding that the bulletin seemed inconsistent with the purpose of the U.S. Information Agency which was to advance U.S. interests. The Ambassador objected specifically to the passage “indicating ‘desire [China] commit suicide so far as UN concerned.’” He concluded with the expressed belief “we are playing into Russian hands by putting blame on GRC instead of USSR where it belongs.” (Ibid.)

    Telegram 323 to Taipei, November 30, replied that “Department shares fully your concern at unfortunate USIA release FEF–57 and commends your alertness in preventing Taiwan dissemination. FYI Secretary has requested USIA recall this despatch and prevent its distribution or use.” (Ibid.)

    ↩
  3. See Document 188.↩