208. Editorial Note

An undated memorandum for the record by Greene with seven attachments documents the background of the communiqué issued at Taipei at 2 p.m. on October 23, 1958 (Document 209).

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Attachment (1) to Greene’s memorandum is the draft cited in footnote 3, Document 204. Attachment (2), headed “Addendum”, unsigned and undated, reads as follows:

“In the discussion of paragraph six after dinner on the evening of October 22, Ambassador Yeh, after conferring with the Gimo, conveyed the Chinese suggestion that the phrase ‘will never itself initiate war’, be amended to read ‘will never itself initiate general war’.

“On subsequent and separate consideration the Secretary and his advisers were not willing to accept this change. It was during the next discussion with the Chinese of paragraph six that the phrase in either form was dropped and the Chinese version of paragraph six agreed upon.”

Attachment (3) is described in Greene’s memorandum as “Secretary’s redrafts, on the basis of (2), of alternative language for several paragraphs, which Secretary took to meeting at 9:30 a.m., October 23.” The draft of paragraph 6 reads as follows:

“The two governments reaffirmed their dedication to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. They recalled that the Treaty under which they are acting is a defensive treaty only. The Government of the Republic of China rejects the concept that its high mission as the representative of Free China is a mission of war. The Republic of China has no military bases for attacks upon the Mainland. Its bases are already on the Mainland, in the minds and hearts of the Chinese people. These it will seek to sustain by its conduct and example.”

Attached to the draft material is a statement quoting from a declaration by the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1954, undertaking “never to have recourse to force to achieve the reunification of Germany.” For text of the declaration, see Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, volume V, pages 13521353.

Attachment (4) consists of a typed draft with revisions and additions in Dulles’ handwriting. It is described in Greene’s memorandum as “Version showing changes worked out by Chinese and Secretary 9:30–10:30, October 23. The Chinese did not accept the versions of paragraph 6 suggested by the Secretary; the version in the Secretary’s handwriting was largely suggested by the Chinese.” The revised draft of paragraph 6 is identical with the penultimate paragraph of the communiqué.

Greene’s memorandum describes attachment (5) as “Clean re-type of results of 3 & 4, which Secretary submitted to Gimo at 12:00 a.m. He suggested no changes.” Attachment (6) is described as “Version of paragraph 2 showing last minute (12:30 p.m.) changes suggested by Chinese.” The last sentence, before revision, reads: “It was recognized that the Quemoys, together with the Matsus, are defensively related to Taiwan and Penghu.” This was revised in Dulles’ handwriting to read: “It was recognized that under present conditions, the defense of the [Page 442] Quemoys, together with the Matsus, is closely related to the defense of Taiwan and Penghu.” Attachment (7) is a typed copy of the final version as authorized for release.

The memorandum and the attachments are in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 1136. All are in the Supplement.