793.5851G/8–2951
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Perkins)
Subject: Chinese Troops in Indochina
| Participants: | Dr. V. K. Wellington Koo, Chinese Ambassador |
| Mr. Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary | |
| Mr. Troy L. Perkins, CA |
Ambassador Koo called at his request today and said that he had been asked to raise the question of the Chinese Nationalist troops now interned in Indochina. He said there were some 30,000 individuals involved, of whom about 20,000 were fighting men, the remainder being families or refugees. He asked that we take up the matter with General de Lattre upon his forthcoming visit to Washington. Mr. Rusk said we had been frequently in touch with the French on the matter. It was mentioned that the question of these troops would probably be one of the topics discussed with General de Lattre.
Mr. Rusk asked whether the Chinese would intend to make a public play of the movement of troops to Formosa; he pointed out in this regard the delicate French position vis-à-vis the Communists. Ambassador Koo indicated that there would be no ostentation and that an unobtrusive move would be in order.
Mr. Rusk also asked whether the Chinese Government had considered what disposition might be made of the troops in case the Far Eastern situation became more troubled generally; for example, would consideration be given to using them in Indochina. The Ambassador gave his opinion that this would be acceptable to the Chinese Government, provided the troops were not assimilated into the local forces, but were allowed to fight as separate units.