212. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China0
384. Deliver following message from President to President Chiang Kai-shek soonest. Confirm date and time delivery:1
“October 24, 1958.
Dear Mr. President: Secretary Dulles has just returned and told me of his consultations with you and your associates at Taipei. I am fully satisfied with the results. When many outsiders are seeking to distort our respective views to create mischief and division between us, there is no substitute for face-to-face high level talks.
I wholly endorse the communiqué. It sets forth our solidarity in the face of Chinese Communist armed attacks. Also, I consider it important that your Government should have declared that its success in restoring freedom to the Mainland Chinese depends principally upon the minds and hearts of the Chinese people, and not the use by your Government of force. This free-world principle, not accepted by the Communists, sets us apart from them and morally above them. Your enunciation of that principle will, I am confident, be welcomed throughout the free world.
Secretary Dulles reported your message to me expressing your determination to cooperate with our considered views, arrived at after consultation with you. This is an important declaration which I welcome. We shall try not to abuse the trust and confidence that it signifies. We seek to have consultation on all significant matters of joint concern. No doubt at times there are unintended inadequacies. But I can assure you that it is our purpose never to take any important new position, or to ask anything of your Government, unless we have previously had an opportunity to consider fully your point of view.
I know that these are difficult days, with the Chinese Communists keeping an atmosphere of uncertainty and mixing force with illusory promises. I have no doubt that our two countries will stand together, resolute and firm, in the face of these tactics and that we shall cause them to fail. I am grateful that we have in you so experienced, wise and reliable a leader of Free China.
Sincerely, Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
Observe Presidential Handling.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/10–2458. Confidential; Priority; Presidential Handling. Drafted and approved by Dulles and cleared by the President.↩
- Telegram 667 from Taipei, October 25, reported that the message had been given to the Foreign Minister that morning. (Ibid., 793.00/10–2558)↩