Office of the Historian

221. Telegram From Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson to the Department of State1

Geneva, December 13, 1956—noon.

605. Two hour fifty minute meeting this morning almost entirely on implementation except for review by Wang of FMC, trade, and cultural proposals with emphasis on latter two. Cited Coleman statement on trade2 and American Assembly statements on trade and cultural relations and newsmen3 in support contention “American people” favor action on these subjects. If US genuinely desires settle problems it should express its views with regard to these specific [Page 452] proposals on questions whose resolution would be easy and in interest both peoples.

Implementation discussion followed familiar lines4 except that in reply he renewed charges US interfering with correspondence Chinese students, I made strong statement charging them with campaign bring pressure on students through organized letter-writing from families. He reiterated old position on imprisoned Americans and there was not slightest indication of any plans for early release.

In reply my suggestion January 10 next meeting he suggested January 12 and opposed January 17 and then finally agreed on Saturday, January 19. Returning Prague tomorrow.

[Johnson]
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/12–1356. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution.↩
  2. Speaking in a televised interview on November 18, John S. Coleman, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, called for the resumption of trade in nonstrategic goods between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. (New York Times, November 19, 1956)↩
  3. The tenth annual session of the American Assembly, a group of business, community, and government leaders sponsored by Columbia University, adopted a report on November 18 dealing with the United States and East Asia. Among other things, the report recommended that “American newspaper men be permitted to travel in mainland China”, that “American scholars should be able to study China at first hand”, and that measures be taken to liberalize “such trade with Communist China as would not impair the security position of the non-Communist countries”. (Ibid.)↩
  4. In guidance telegram 638 to Geneva, December 10, Johnson was instructed to: “Continue your excellent attack of November 29 on Chinese Communist progressive nullification of terms of Agreed Announcement, drawing again on McCarthy case to illustrate your points”. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/12–1056)↩