Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, China, Volume III

58. Telegram From the Secretary of State to Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson, at Geneva¹

Washington, September 19, 1955—3:45 p.m.

745. Instructions for September 20 meeting.

1. Department approves your suggested oral reply to Wang question invitation to GOI and UKG,² as contained paragraph 5 your 740.³ While question raised by Wang seems trivial and without merit, considering explicit language of Agreed Announcement, it would seem desirable for you to explore fully with him subject of respective communications to GOI and UKG. Department expects obtain further information from British Embassy later in day regarding ability UK Mission in Peiping to perform agreed function. Wang should be queried insistently in regard to action taken by PRC with UK Mission in Peiping until you are satisfied that necessary facilities accorded.

2. Department will send you separate report today on publicity for Agreed Announcement in Chinese language newspapers in U.S.⁴

3. Department has received note from Indian Embassy containing formal GOI acceptance role assigned to it.⁵ Indian Ambassador calling at Department September 20 to discuss Indian Government responsibilities under Agreed Announcement. UK has orally indicated in answer to our formal note that it is prepared to accept function requested. Written confirmation expected shortly. We of course do not object to PRC approaching GOI in same vein that we have approached UKG. We consider it mandatory on PRC to approach UK as we have approached GOI.

4. We hope to have additional information for you from INS in time for tomorrow’s meeting on latest departures Chinese for Far East.

5. You are requested to raise question of unilateral public statements. You should make it clear to Wang that you are not charging him with act of bad faith on September 14, since it now appears that he did give notice at last meeting that he intended issue statement. However his statement of intention was not clearly understood by you at the time and created necessity for you put out unilateral public statement. You should propose that both sides get back to original agreement of no unilateral public statements without clear understanding or explicit advance notice.

6. If necessity develops you are authorized inform Wang at Tuesday6 meeting that while Item One has priority on Agenda until implementation complete, you will be prepared at following meeting (not before Sept. 24 but preferably following week) begin task of making up Agenda under Item Two. You will propose that each side come to following meeting with list of items which it wishes raise under Item Two. Lists would be exchanged at that meeting. After interval of about a week in which each side could consider items proposed by other, meeting would be scheduled at which agreement would be sought on topics to be considered under Item Two. At that meeting effort would be made determine order in which topics would be considered.

7. You should inform Wang at Tuesday meeting that request which he has publicly made for talks at higher level is procedural and not substantive and cannot be considered by us as “practical matter at issue”. Request does not fall within agreement regarding Geneva talks represented by mutually agreed communiqué of July 25. It would nullify the agreement we now have to discuss “practical problems now at issue” at the Ambassadorial level. We are not prepared substitute another forum for this one nor to discuss or agree now as to what would happen when current Geneva talks concluded which we would hope would be when all practical matters at issue disposed of. Both sides should make maximum effort settle “practical matters now at issue” at Ambassadorial level as already agreed.

8. You may remind Wang that during discussion topics for Item Two we will feel free return to implementation Item One which will always remain in priority position on Agenda and we will continuously observe such implementation. We have taken due note of fact that 7 of 29 imprisoned Americans have arrived Hong Kong. We confidently anticipate early release of remainder as well as 12 Americans previously denied exit permits.

9. FYI only. Topics we propose raise under Item Two are following: (1) unaccounted for American servicemen from Korean war and (2) renunciation of force. We consider proposing (3) “restitution of seized American diplomatic and consular property on China mainland” and request your comment on this item.

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–1955. Secret; Niact; Limited Distribution. Drafted by McConaughy and Phleger; cleared in draft by the Secretary; cleared by Sebald and approved by Robertson.

2. Reference is to a letter from Wang to Johnson, September 16. Johnson reported in telegram 739 from Geneva, September 17, that he had just received the letter, which stated that Wang had proposed on September 14 that the United States should “formally entrust” the British Government and the PRC should “formally entrust” the Indian Government so as “to complete procedures of entrusting third powers”. The letter requested confirmation that the United States had “formally entrusted” the British Government and stated that upon receiving it the PRC would notify the British Government of its agreement. (Ibid., 611.93/9–1755) Johnson transmitted the text of the letter in translation under cover of despatch 5, September 21. (Ibid., 611.93/9–2155) Johnson’s detailed report of the September 14 meeting in telegram 725 from Geneva, September 14, described Wang’s proposal as follows:

   “Wang then proposed US Government present official text of agreed announcement to UK and he would present same to GOI thus completing official procedures regarding invitation of third powers. After these official procedures concluded his government would formally notify UK Chargé in Peking.” See Document 56.

3. Johnson proposed in paragraph 5 of telegram 740 from Geneva, September 17, that at his next meeting with Wang he should reply orally along the following lines:

   • “A. As I informed him Sept 14 USG has formally transmitted agreed announcement to GOI and invited it undertake in US functions set forth in announcement. GOI has formally replied accepting invitation.
   • “B. USG has also transmitted agreed announcement to UKG and formally requested it undertake in PRC functions set forth announcement.
   • “C. USG has therefore taken all action required of it in order that third countries concerned may undertake their functions. What action has PRC taken?”

   He noted that he had not informed Wang of the U.S. communication to the British Government at their last meeting because he had not had the information at that time. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–1755)

4. The report was sent to Johnson in telegram 743 to Geneva, September 19. (Ibid., 611.93/9–1555)
5. Dated September 16. (Ibid., 211.9311/9–1655)