166. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State1
70. 1. During a call by me on DefMin Chiang Ching-kuo July 6 he raised subject of high level consultations and of Blue Lion Committee referring to points conveyed to him by Charge Hummel in October last year (Deptel 396).2
2. He said he would like to broaden scope of Blue Lion Committee so that I, with TDC chief and DCM, would participate with him and a very limited number of associates, in general and wide ranging discussions in very small and secure group on problems of mutual interest. He indicated that these discussions would probably not involve any plans for return to mainland, but would include situation on mainland, ChiCom capabilities and intentions, Vietnam war, general Far East and world strategic and political problems, etc. insofar as they affected our joint interests here.
3. I said that I heartily agreed we should make occasions for such discussions but that I would like a few days to think over whether Blue Lion Committee was best framework. He said that of course we would have other means and occasions for discussions in addition to Committee, but that he was following USG proposal (para B of Deptel 396) to use Blue Lion framework.
4. It seems likely that Gimo has instructed him to proceed to carry out long delayed consultations and that Gimo has decided to keep to the letter of US proposal, notwithstanding DefMin’s statement to Hummel in October (Embtel 489)3 that consultations would not require any formal mechanism or committee. It is encouraging that GRC apparently does not, at least at the present time, intend to revive request for joint contingency planning for attacking mainland.
5. On balance it seems advisable to follow original formula, and at least for the time being accept the Blue Lion label. For one thing, GRC seems to take it for granted that we should use this framework as we said we would last year. For another, if these talks become known to ChiComs it would be better to have them named “Blue Lion” which, if ChiComs have capability to penetrate GRC military, they should know is under strictly limited ground rules. Furthermore, Chiang Ching-kuo envisages [Page 354] very informal, rather personal setup, with flexible procedures, no fixed meeting dates and no set agenda or agreed minutes.
6. I shall proceed, along with Adm Gentner, to explore GRC ideas further and arrange a preliminary meeting.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CHINAT-US. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to CINCPAC.↩
- See footnote 3, Document 108.↩
- Document 108.↩
- Telegram 4843 to Taipei, July 11, reported that Chiang Ching-kuo’s approach, especially his indication that plans for return to the mainland would not be among topics for discussion, seemed to be encouraging evidence the GRC was prepared for talks that could be beneficial “both substantively and psychologically.” The Department did not object to the Blue Lion label for discussions but was anxious to avoid raising their visibility “from Peiping viewpoint” and favored informal, flexible procedures. (Department of State, Central Files, POL CHINAT-US)↩