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

262. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State ⁰

Warsaw, February 13, 1959, 6 p.m.

1073. USUN for Lodge. Beam–Wang Talks. 87th meeting two and one-half hours.¹ Wang opened with a prepared statement asking whether US considered renunciation force principle applied to itself, whether US considered principle applied in relations between US and China and whether US willing seriously begin discussions concerning carrying out this principle.

I replied that US of course considered renunciation force principle applied to itself, and that US considered principle should apply in relations between US and Wang’s country. However his side’s insistence on freedom use force against our ally, the GRC, was chief obstacle to the serious discussion this subject which we had long desired.

Wang denied I had answered his question and repeated familiar accusations that US had occupied Taiwan, was interfering in Chinese internal affairs, et cetera.

I replied with statement based on first part Deptel 832² emphasizing particularly unreal character of Chinese Communists’ denials GRC existence and allegation US occupying Taiwan by armed force.

In subsequent give and take Wang likened US action to that of Nazis and Japanese in World War II to which I took strong exception causing Wang to moderate his remarks to extent of paying tribute to US role in World War II but he concluded by reiterating allegation that US now engaged in occupying other people’s territories, particularly China’s Taiwan.

I then presented statement on imprisoned Americans based Deptel 832 which provoked Wang into rather long response in which he insisted his government scrupulously carrying out agreed announcement and declared American prisoners must be dealt with accordance Chinese law and could not be released in advance of term except for good behavior. He then made detailed allegations as to pressures supposedly exerted by US on Chinese desiring return home which I refuted and reserved right return to this next meeting.

To query on Bishop Walsh Wang replied only that case still under investigation and he could therefore give no information.

Wang introduced Yao Kuang, his Counselor of Embassy at Warsaw, as replacement for Huang Hua.

Since Polish Government requires our meeting place as guest house during next month’s Party Congress we agreed next meeting be held after Congress Thursday March 19 at 2 p.m.

Beam

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/2–1359. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Received at 8:15 p.m. Repeated to USUN and Taipei.
1. Beam sent a transcript of the meeting in airgram G–332, February 13, and sent his comments and recommendations in telegram 1076, February 14. (Ibid., 611.93/2–1359 and 611.93/2–1459, respectively; see Supplement)
2. Telegram 832 to Warsaw, February 11, transmitted Beam’s instructions for the meeting. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/1–1059; see Supplement)