Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, China, Volume XIX

188. Memorandum of Conversation Between President Eisenhower and Secretary of State Dulles⁰

Washington, October 14, 1958, 6 p.m.

1. I outlined to the President some of the pros and cons, as they had emerged in my discussions with my associates, of my planning to travel to Taipei en route home from Rome.¹ The President felt it important that we show positive action during the present period and therefore felt that I should do so. I said that I would, if invited for that time. I pointed out that it could not be expected that out of my visit would come any announcement indicative of changes in the Chinat attitude toward the offshore islands and the deployment for their defense. I said that such a change, if it came about at all, would undoubtedly only come about gradually over a period of weeks or perhaps months and would have to be under circumstances that would indicate that the change was of their own making and of their own volition. I also added that any statement we might make would probably have to be confined to an expression of the solidarity of our two countries under our Mutual Security Treaty. The President said “yes” to that but added also “peace”. I pointed out that there was a chance that the Chicoms might use my presence there as an excuse for breaking or terminating the cease-fire. The President thought this was a risk that would have to be taken; that, in fact, whether they continued or broke the cease-fire would be determined by other considerations.

[Here follows discussion of unrelated subjects.]

JFD

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Meetings with the President. Confidential; Personal and Private. Drafted by Dulles. The conversation was held at the White House.
1. A memorandum by Dulles of a conversation with the President on October 13 reads in part as follows: “I discussed with the President a possible trip to Taiwan, going there from Rome. The President said that he was inclined to feel that it would be desirable to go there within the present two-week period of suspension. He said, however, he would await my further and more mature thinking on the subject following my talk with associates.” (Ibid.; see Supplement)