Office of the Historian

154. Telegram From the Department of State to the Delegation to the U.N. General Assembly0

Washington, October 3, 1958, 9:25 p.m.

Gadel 33. For Lodge. Re your conversations with Menon re Taiwan Straits (Delga 57 and USUN 374).1 Department believes Menon should not be encouraged re any possible role for him or India as mediator in present Taiwan Straits crisis. As is evidenced by your report and other [Page 327] information we have, Menon’s views not likely be helpful to us. We believe you should avoid getting into substance Taiwan Straits question to degree possible with Menon since he is apt to use what you have to say as means inject himself as third party. Following points are transmitted for your guidance and use in next conversation with Menon:

1.
You should inform Menon that you have reported his views to Department and Department has expressed its appreciation of his interest and his desire to be helpful.
2.
You will continue be available as normal to hear his views on this matter as on other matters of mutual interest between US and India.
3.
As Menon is aware, views of Chi-Coms being communicated to US directly through Beam–Wang channel. We believe for time being at least this best channel to discuss this matter with Chi-Coms.
4.
Re Menon’s statement that GRC started fighting, and that GRC trying involve US in war,2 you should give Menon substance of Taipei’s 530 repeated USUN 11.3

FYI. [2 lines of source text not declassified] Evident from this information that Chi-Coms giving Indians distorted picture US position. Department therefore considering whether and how US position can be made clear to India. While no definite decision taken, we believe Bunker4 approach to Nehru might help set record straight. End FYI.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/10–158. Top Secret. Drafted by Joseph J. Sisco, Deputy Director of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs; cleared in draft by Robertson, Martin, and Green and with SOA and S/S; and approved by Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Francis O. Wilcox. Repeated to New Delhi and Taipei.↩
  2. Delga 57 from USUN, September 29, and telegram 374 from USUN, October 1. (Ibid., 793.00/9–2958 and 793.00/10–158; see Supplement)↩
  3. Delga 57 from USUN reported that Menon had said, inter alia, that the Nationalists had started the current fighting by transporting fresh troops to Quemoy on August 19.↩
  4. Telegram 530 from Taipei, October 2, stated that the only troop movements to Quemoy for more than 2 years had consisted of the normal rotation of forces. The last significant movement of troops had occurred early in July, when an infantry division on Taiwan replaced one on Quemoy. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/10–258; see Supplement)↩
  5. Ambassador to India Ellsworth Bunker.↩