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

327. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State⁰

Taipei, February 4, 1960, 4 p.m.

637. President Chiang asked me to see him this morning for an informal talk. At his request I gave an account of my consultations in Washington. In this regard, he referred to his conversation with Under Secretary Dillon on October 21 last¹ and asked if I had had any discussions of paramilitary mainland operations problem in Washington. I replied I had discussed it in a general way with Parsons and [less then 1 line of source text not declassified], and during my stay in Washington Parsons had conveyed to Ambassador Yeh for transmittal to President Chiang US views re representations Chiang had made to Dillon.

Anticipating Chiang might want to discuss this issue, I had with me a copy of memorandum of conversation of December 16 between Yeh and Parsons.² I told President I had memo which constituted reply to his representations and asked if he desired to review conversation even though I assumed Ambassador Yeh had reported it fully. President responded affirmatively, whereupon I had President’s interpreter give him virtually full translation of memo.

President change of countenance reflected his unhappiness as translation proceeded. However, he retained his composure and appeared prepared to proceed to other subjects without comment. But in response to my invitation for comment, he said US Government is “being severe and holding to a very rigid line” which suggested to him US Government continued to manifest a “lack of confidence” in him.

I assured President we had every confidence in him. I said we wished to achieve same objectives, but had differences over way to approach problem before us.

I stressed our desire to be helpful in ways we could approve, and suggested further informal discussions, in which our concerned military and intelligence authorities could participate, in order to have a full exchange of views and to try to reconcile differences of approach. President indicated he would be amenable to further discussions which we will attempt to set up [2-1/2 lines of source text not declassified].

Comment: I thought it advisable to suggest further discussions because President clearly is still unhappy re what he regards as restrictive US attitude toward mainland operations and because there are some indications he may be making active preparations to plant paramilitary units on mainland within next few months. I would hope frank discussions with President would make realistically clear many problems to be overcome in carrying out operations he may envisage, would give us opportunity to gain clearer insight into his thinking and offer us opportunity to stress again and again our own concepts of approach and program which President does not now appear to accept.

Drumright

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/2–460. Secret; Limit Distribution. Received at 5:09 a.m.
1. See Document 310.
2. Document 322.