Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXX, China

108. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State¹

Taipei, October 28, 1965, 0925Z.

489. 1. DefMin Chiang Ching-kuo asked me in today to discuss message I passed to FonMin Oct 23 reported Embtel 467.² His purpose was to clear up some garbles in notes passed to him by MOFA which had puzzled both CCK and Pres Chiang.

2. I took the opportunity to probe further on his proposal for high level exchange of views (para D Deptel 369 [396?]).³ I said Dept probably wondering whether an additional formal mechanism was necessary, and whether it would not be preferable to have periodic informal exchanges between Ambassador on one hand and Pres Chiang and/or DefMin on the other.

3. CCK said that was what he had in mind, that meetings should be informal and should take place whenever either side wished them, and that no formal committee required. He said purpose in his mind was to make an opportunity for exchanges of views between friends, with no commitments on either side. He said sometimes diplomatic channels (by which I think he meant all occasions when close records and close following of policy guidance is required) too constraining, and that GRC was seeking easier and less formal ways to discuss what each side was thinking.

4. I asked for examples of subject matter, and he said that he hoped discussions could deal with the general situation in Asia, and with opinions, private or official, about future trends. He said that few if any details or specific intelligence reports would be discussed, only general principles and trends.

5. CCK today discussed with [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] plans for exchanging appraisals of situation on mainland (para C Deptel 369).

6. Comment: Believe this is significant retreat from previous request for high level committee structure, possibly occasioned by my statement that Dept may be having problems with formal aspects of proposal. Seems likely that CCK and his father realize that closer communication with USG is highly desirable, and that it has been hampered by Chinese desire, and US unwillingness, to discuss such deeply held articles of faith as return to mainland, knocking out ChiCom nuclear capability, etc. CCK visit designed among other things to show greater flexibility and accommodation to US views, which they understand very well. They are now asking for discussions and better communication between friends and assured us that they do not wish to press for specific actions to be taken. Strongly recommend that Dept instruct me to reply that USG is pleased at prospects for closer exchanges of views and agrees that periodic informal meetings between Amb and high level GRC officials will be very useful. Also would like to say that Amb will carry special instructions from Pres Johnson or SecState relating to these meetings, and that we hope the meetings can be supplemented from time to time by discussions with visiting high level US officials. Any other forthcoming and cooperative noises I can be empowered to make will be helpful.⁴

7. At this point would be useful to demonstrate that US attitude is one of desire to have better understandings with GRC. Realize that such exchanges are not going to be easy to keep within bounds. We have sharply divergent views of the world, which I believe stem from GRC conviction that there is a war on already and has been for many years, while USG is committed to exploration of steps toward peace. Because of this, high level discussions here are curiously constrained by unwillingness either side to expose different views and cause impasse. CCK has taken significant steps to open up broad-scope substantive conversations which have been rare in recent years.

8. CCK has asked me to go with him on overnight trip to Quemoy about Nov 10 which should give opportunity for further probing.

Hummel

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 15–1 CHINAT. Secret; Limdis.
2. Telegram 467 from Taipei, October 23. (Ibid.)
3. Telegram 396 to Taipei, October 15, instructed Charge Arthur W. Hummel, Jr., to inform the Foreign Minister of the Department’s preliminary thoughts on actions it might take concerning U.S.-GRC consultations to follow up Chiang Ching-kuo’s conversations in Washington. (Ibid., POL 7 CHINAT)
4. Telegram 463 to Taipei, October 30, authorized Hummel to reply along the lines he suggested, except that it did not say the Ambassador would have special instructions from the President or Secretary of State. (Ibid., POL CHINAT-US)