Office of the Historian

201. Summary Record of Meeting0

REAT MC–11 (Taiwan)
Taipei, October 22, 1958, 1 p.m.

Secretary’s Trip to Rome, England, Alaska and Taiwan

PARTICIPANTS

  • Secretary of State
  • Assistant Secretary Robertson
  • Ambassador Drumright
  • General Taylor1
  • Vice Admiral Smoot
  • General White2
  • Major General Doan
  • Brigadier General Bonesteel3

SUBJECT

  • Troop Strength on Off-Shore Islands

The Secretary outlined his presentation to the Generalissimo.

Admiral Smoot and General Doan described a plan, which General Doan had found had the agreement of the Ministry of National Defense, for reducing the number of troops on Quemoy by a total of about 17,000 men. This plan envisages withdrawal of one full division of 12,000 men and reduction of 1,000 men from each of the remaining six divisions. [Page 427] General Doan noted that it is not proposed to put this plan into effect immediately, in the present circumstances.

General Taylor noted that study is also being given the possibility of improving the artillery on the islands, including the possible addition of about 12 240 mm howitzers on Quemoy. In response to his question, the Secretary suggested that the howitzers be provided only in return for GRC agreement to reduce the total troop strength on Quemoy by between 15,000 and 20,000 men; the details of how this reduction might be accomplished the Secretary left for military determination. The Secretary also agreed that the howitzers could be put in position on the islands before an agreed troop reduction is completed, although not before agreement with the GRC on the reduction is reached. He said he is willing to take the risk that this might lead to non-fulfillment of the agreement.

  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 1136. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Greene. The conversation was held at the U.S. Embassy.↩
  2. General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, visited Taiwan October 21–23. He had planned to visit Taiwan October 22–25 in the course of a trip to several Asian countries, but his visit was rescheduled to coincide with Dulles’.↩
  3. General Isaac D. White, Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Pacific.↩
  4. Brigadier General Charles H. Bonesteel III, Secretary of the General Staff, U.S. Army.↩