Office of the Historian

122. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, September 23, 1958, 12:30 p.m.
  • The President
  • The Secretary of State
  • Mr. Joseph N. Greene, Jr.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

(6) Referring to the situation in the Taiwan Straits, I said that our latest reports from Ambassador Beam do not encourage the hope of positive outcome in his talks with the Chinese Communist Ambassador.

[Page 267]

I said that as recently as last Saturday I had been informed by the Navy that the supply situation in respect of Quemoy seemed brighter and that the supply operation could be expected to continue more or less indefinitely. Then this morning I had been told that six-foot waves in the Straits mean that the whole supply operation must be held up. This sort of conflicting information, I said, is only too typical. The President noted the virtual impossibility of the Chinats and our military position in the Straits; we discussed the countervailing and great psychological and political importance to Chiang Kai-chek and his government of holding on to the islands. The President expressed regret that there seemed to be no way to persuade Chiang to re-direct the focus of his leadership, in a way which would enable him to re-group his military forces into more sensible positions. I also noted the increasing difficulty we are having, and must expect to have, in restraining Chiang from initiating offensive military action from his present positions.

The President expressed some concern that as much as two-thirds of the world, and 50% of US, opinion opposes the course which we have been following. I said that I thought, particularly among the governments of the Far East and of Western Europe, our policy is understood and supported. I felt that if we stand firm against the Communists, the outcome will be in our favor, unless by attrition the Communists can grind down the Quemoys’ abilities to survive; on the other hand, if the supply operations can continue successfully, the military action against the islands may gradually subside.

JFD
  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Secret; Personal and Private. Drafted by Greene.↩