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

355. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State⁰

Warsaw, October 19, 1960, 8 a.m.

640. Beam–Wang Talks. 101 meeting, two hours ten minutes.¹ Wang led off criticizing our rejection ChiCom draft agreement on newsmen along lines Peiping Ministry Foreign Affairs statement September 13.² He also reiterated declaration made in that statement that history of talks showed no agreement could be reached with US on minor matters until major problem of “US occupation of Taiwan” resolved. He charged that prompt US rejection ChiCom draft on newsmen showed US had already decided prior to last meeting to reject their draft and make public statement.

I denied any decision prior last meeting to reject ChiCom draft and make public statement. Then pointed out why their draft unacceptable along lines paragraph six Deptel 430.³ I followed with statement incorporating paragraphs two, three and four of Deptel 430⁴ and concluded by expressing disagreement with Wang’s conclusion other questions could not be settled prior to agreement regarding Taiwan.

Wang came back with lengthy statement intended refute our accusation their side committed to inevitability of [garble—war] and then proceeded cite various examples US military preparations as evidence that US was aggressively minded. He then put series of questions regarding US attitude to Cairo and Potsdam declarations, Japanese surrender document,⁵ UN Charter, Truman statement January 1950 on Taiwan, et cetera aimed at demonstrating that US by its “occupation” of Taiwan was violating various international commitments and public statements. In responding, I pointed out his questions all “loaded” and based on false premise that US had occupied Taiwan. I briefly reiterated [garble—treaty] relationship with GRC which I said were fully in accord with US obligations under UN Charter and other international commitments.

I then asked Wang for further detail on Chinese Communist proposal for nuclear-free zone.⁶ Wang’s rejoinder was diatribe against US hostility to his country as demonstrated by our actions in UNGA regarding ChiRep issue and Tibet. He then said he would reserve response to my question regarding nuclear-free zone until next meeting. I refuted his accusations concerning US activities in UN and expressed interest in hearing at next meeting his comments regarding nuclear-free zone.

I proposed November 17 for next meeting. Wang countered with November 22 and we finally agreed on December 1 at 2 p.m.

Beam

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/10–1960. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to USUN, Taipei, and Hong Kong.
1. The meeting was held on October 18. Beam sent his comments and recommendations in telegram 641 from Warsaw, October 19, and a transcript of the meeting in airgram G–155, October 21. (Ibid., 611.93/10–1960 and 611.93/10–2160, respectively; see Supplement)
2. For text, see Peking Review, September 14, 1960.
3. Telegram 430 to Warsaw, October 14, conveyed Beam’s instructions for the meeting. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/10–1460; see Supplement)
4. They argued that repatriation of civilians and missing and unaccounted-for servicemen were not “minor matters,” that the United States had made many proposals which would not require Wang’s side to renounce its claim to Taiwan but merely to renounce the use of force in pursuing its claims, and that his side had proclaimed its dedication to the doctrine of the inevitability of war.
5. For text of the Japanese instrument of surrender, signed September 2, 1945, see Department of State Bulletin, September 9, 1945, pp. 364–365.
6. A message from Premier Chou to the Sixth World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and for Total Disarmament, July 30, 1960, stated, “We have repeatedly proposed that all countries of the Asian and Pacific area conclude a peace pact of mutual nonaggression and make this area a nuclear weapon-free zone.” For text, see Documents on Disarmament, 1960 (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961), pp. 180–181. Telegrams 255 and 430 to Warsaw (cited in footnote 2, Document 349, and in footnote 3 above) instructed Beam to probe the Chinese position on this proposal.