Office of the Historian

795.00/4–2253

No. 103
Memorandum by David G. Nes, Assistant to the Director of the Executive Secretariat, to the Secretary of State

[Washington,] May 1, 1953.

Subject:

  • Proposed reply to Chiang Kai-shek’s letter of April 15 to the President
[Page 195]

Discussion

In a letter dated April 15 presented to the President by Ambassador Wellington Koo President Chiang expressed at some length his views regarding the current Soviet “peace offensive” and warned against any relaxation of our efforts. Specifically, he recommended a time limit be placed on any resumption of the Armistice negotiations.

FE has prepared a reply for the President’s signature agreeing with Chiang’s view that this is a tactical maneuver on the part of the Soviet Union and that her long-term objective of World domination remains the same. Assurance is given that we will not relax our vigilance or our search for greater unity and strength in the free world. On the other hand, we must grasp our opportunities presented by the “peace offensive” and give the Soviet Union an opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity. The conclusion of an honorable armistice in Korea is but a first step. We hope that Soviet words will be followed by deeds but we must be shown. Until then, we cannot relax our guard.

Recommendation

That you sign the attached memorandum to the President transmitting the proposed reply to Chiang Kai-shek.1

D. G. N.
  1. The memorandum, with the proposed reply to Chiang Kai-shek, was sent to the President on May 4. Eisenhower signed a letter to Chiang, presumably the draft letter, on May 5, but no copy of the signed letter has been found in Department of State files. The letter was pouched to Taipei, and Rankin reported in telegram 1181 from Taipei, May 14, that he had handed it to Chiang that day. (711.11 EI/5–1453)↩