1. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China 0
310. Deliver following message to President Chiang, advising date time delivery.1
“Personal and Confidential. January 12, 1961.
Dear Mr. President:
I have read with profound appreciation the kind sentiments which you have expressed in your letter of December 142 regarding my work and United States assistance to the Republic of China during the past eight years. The close and fruitful relations that have existed between our two countries during this period have been a source of great gratification to me. As I made clear during my visit to Taiwan last June, I have been deeply impressed by the fortitude with which the Republic of China, under your dedicated leadership, has resisted Communist aggressive threats and pressures and by the energy and skill with which your government has moved to promote the economic and social development of Taiwan. I am proud that the United States through its military and economic assistance programs has been able to help the Republic of China develop its military and economic strength.
I am pleased to know that discussions between representatives of our two countries have continued in Taiwan in pursuance of our conversations in June and my reply to certain points raised by you at that time which was conveyed to you by Ambassador Drumright in August. In this connection I am glad to tell you that, after careful consideration of your request for the delivery of several C-130 or other transport planes, I have authorized the delivery to your Government of one C-130B at this [Page 2] time.3 You will appreciate, I am sure, that in view of the large number of countries which look to the United States for military equipment, as well as the requirements of our own armed forces, it is difficult to make immediately available to your Government more than one of these aircraft. However, if in the light of your experience with this aircraft it should become apparent that another of the same type could be effectively utilized, I am confident that the United States Government would give serious consideration to a further request from you.
In closing, I wish to reiterate my deep admiration for a staunch and courageous ally and my hope that the friendly ties that unite the Chinese and American peoples and the solidarity of our two countries will be strengthened even further in the future.
With the Season’s Greetings,
Sincerely yours,
Dwight D. Eisenhower”
Foregoing is reply to following letter from Chiang to President delivered by Chinese Embassy here:
[Here follows the text of Chiang’s letter of December 14, 1960.]
White House desires text President’s letter not become public.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5-MSP/1-1261. Confidential; Presidential Handling. Drafted by Deputy Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs LaRue R. Lutkins; cleared by Assistant Staff Secretary to the President Colonel John S.D. Eisenhower, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs John M. Steeves, and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Livingston T. Merchant; and approved by Raymond L. Perkins of the Executive Secretariat.↩
- Telegram 390 from Taipei reported that the message would be delivered to Chiang that afternoon. (Ibid., 793.5-MSP/1-1461)↩
- For text, see Foreign Relations, 1958–1960, vol. XIX, pp. 747-749.↩
- The C-130B was not sent. A memorandum of January 24, 1962, from Deputy Assist-ant Secretary of Defense William P. Bundy to Secretary of Defense McNamara states that the Department of State had delayed action because of “certain reservations about the probable use to which the C-130 would be put” and that arrangements were made to substitute a C-54, which was delivered on August 28. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, 091 China)↩