Office of the Historian

793.00/7–1750: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Taipei, July 17, 1950—4 p. m.

74. Chen Tai-chu of FonOff this morning asked as urgent question whether Nationalist artillery on Chinmen was entitled to shell Chinese Communist batteries on mainland when latter initiated firing against Chinmen.

I stated this was another question which undoubtedly would have to be considered with wide range of matters now being worked on in Washington.1

Department pass ComSeventhFlt.

Strong

  1. The Department sent the following reply in telegram 56, July 21, to Taipei:

    “Urrtel 74, July 17. Since such operations by NAT garrison Chinmen wld appear to be defensive in character, it is considered that counteraction by NAT artillery is legitimate when mainland batteries initiate action. Pls inform FonOff.” (793.00/7–1750)

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