Office of the Historian

47. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts1

Washington, September 5, 1964, 8:02 p.m.

446. Personal for Chief of Mission. I trust that you will do all in your power to ensure that countries now recognizing the GRC will continue this policy and that those not now recognizing Peiping will not move closer to Communist China. It is clear that the Chinese Communists are mounting a subtle, persistent offensive, particularly in Africa, with a view to improving their international position at the expense of the GRC. An official Chinese Communist goodwill mission now touring West Africa is trying to undermine the GRC position there. Malawi and Northern Rhodesia appear disposed to establish relations with Peiping.

I am sure you realize, as we move into the weeks preceding the General Assembly, that the GRC’s status in the United Nations depends upon a solid international position. Moreover, it would be particularly dangerous for the peace of the world if Peiping were to be rewarded with recognition and admission to the UN at a time when the Chinese Communists are inciting aggression in Asia, encouraging rebellion in Africa and extolling militant revolution in much of the world. This point should be of particular concern in those areas of the world where the Chinese Communists are now actively supporting revolutionary and subversive movements which seek to topple duly constituted authority.

I leave to your judgment what measures will be best suited to the situation in each of your posts. You may find CA-4523, October 23, 1963,2 [Page 86] and CA-10131, April 3, 1964,3 helpful in this regard. If you desire additional guidance, the Department is prepared to supply background and talking points.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 CHINAT. Secret. Drafted by Green and William J. Cunningham of the ROC desk, cleared by UNP Director William B. Buffum, and approved and initialed by Rusk. Sent to all U.S. diplomatic missions except those in the Soviet bloc and to Hong Kong, Lusaka, Valletta, USUN, the Mission at Geneva, and USRO Paris.↩
  2. See footnote 7, Document 23.↩
  3. Not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 2 US)↩