Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 2

690B.9321/9–2653: Telegram

No. 104
The Chargé in the Republic of China (Jones) to the Department of State

top secret
priority

Taipei, September 26, 1953—2 p.m.

195. Reference Deptel 253¹ and Embtel 189.² President Chiang returned from south last night and I was given appointment to see him this morning. I conveyed substance of reference telegram almost verbatim and left strong paraphrase as informal reference. President replied that he was instructing Foreign Minister to communicate with me on this matter immediately and indicated his conviction reply would be satisfactory to US Government.

Inwardness of situation here is that Foreign Minister, Prime Minister, Secretary-General and Chief of Staff (real OSP Ministry of National Defense and Military Forces) are united in bringing pressure to bear on President to accept American proposals. He has been yielding, inch by inch, but it has been hard work accompanied by violent argument and Generalissimo is irritable now whenever subject is brought up. Nevertheless, he received me courteously, listened with patience but obviously did not wish to enter into discussion of matter himself.

Meanwhile, Cabinet met this morning and approved statement of a draft prepared by the Foreign Minister for presentation to the President immediately following my interview with him.

I have appointment with Foreign Minister at 4:30 today to receive statement and will inform Department soonest.

Jones

1. Supra.
2. Dated Sept. 24; it reported that Yeh told Jones that the Ministry of National Defense had taken steps to ensure that no supplies were sent to the troops in Burma. (690B.9321/9–2453)