347. Editorial Note
In accordance with a recommendation by the Operations Coordinating Board (see Document 338), the NSC Planning Board reviewed paragraphs 8 and 20 of NSC 5723, “U.S. Policy Toward Taiwan and the Government of the Republic of China,” dated October 4, 1957. Draft revised paragraphs were prepared by the Planning Board and transmitted to the National Security Council with a memorandum from Boggs, August 5. (Department of State, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 5723 Series) The Council concurred in the revisions, as recorded in NSC Action No. 2290, approved by the President on August 24. (Ibid., S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)
A memorandum of August 24 from Lay to all holders of NSC 5723 enclosed two revised pages incorporating the approved revised paragraphs 8 and 20 and requested that the revised pages be substituted for the superseded pages in all copies of NSC 5723 and that the superseded [Page 712] pages be destroyed. (Ibid., S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, NSC 5723 Series) The text of NSC 5723 as printed in Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, volume III, pages 619–623, includes the revised pages including the revised paragraphs.
Paragraphs 8 and 20 of NSC 5723, as approved October 4, 1957, were identical to paragraphs 8 and 20 of NSC 5503, January 11, 1955 ( ibid., volume II, pages 30–34), except that references to “Formosa” were changed to “Taiwan.” Paragraph 8, as approved October 4, 1957, reads as follows:
“Increased support for the GRC by non-Communist Chinese outside mainland China and Taiwan, especially the overseas Chinese of Southeast Asia, in so far as such support does not conflict with obligations to their local governments.”
Paragraph 8 as revised reads as follows:
“GRC adherence to the principle of increased orientation of overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia, toward the host countries and integration into their local communities. In the case of those overseas Chinese who continue to regard China as their home and who look to it for inspiration and leadership, increased support of the GRC as the Government of China.”
Paragraph 20, as approved October 4, 1957, reads as follows:
“To the extent feasible, encourage the GRC to establish closer contact with the Chinese communities outside mainland China and Taiwan and to take steps to win their sympathy and support, in so far as such support does not conflict with obligations to their local governments. Encourage the leaders of these communities to reciprocate by extending sympathy and support to the GRC as the focal point of the wee Chinese alternative to Communism and as a Free World partner in the defense against Communist expansion in Asia.”
Paragraph 20 as revised reads as follows:
“Encourage the GRC to influence the overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia, to the end that they integrate fully and as rapidly as practicable into the national life of their host countries, becoming loyal citizens and identifying themselves with the interests of these countries so long as they are not Communist-oriented. Seek to ensure that overseas Chinese who continue to feel and act as Chinese rather than as citizens of their host countries look to the GRC as the custodian of Chinese social and cultural values and support it as the representative of the interests and aspirations of the Chinese people. In so far as feasible without jeopardizing our larger interests with respect to our relations with the host countries, assist the GRC in its efforts to influence China-oriented overseas Chinese to look to Taiwan rather than to the Communist mainland.”
A copy of NSC 5723, including the original as well as the revised pages, is in the Eisenhower Library, NSC Staff Records, Disaster File, NSC 5723; see Supplement under date of August 24, 1960. See also Document 298.