Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, China and Japan, Volume XIV, Part 1

Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file

No. 240
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, Prepared in the White House¹

[Washington,] July 26, 1954—9:50 [a.m.]

President talked to Secretary of State, after Dulles had called Jim Hagerty and informed him that two American search planes, looking for survivors of the British plane shot down near Hainan, had themselves been shot down.²

President: “Well, it didn’t take long for that to happen. The question is how to handle.” Dulles said that if President approved he would make a protest against further barbarities in attempting to shoot down rescue type planes. Eisenhower said that the Chinese would undoubtedly claim that they, the Chinese, were out on rescue missions too. President said that he had told the leaders in the Congressional meeting about the news, asked them to keep it confidential. Dulles said categorically our planes were fired upon first.

President agreed Dulles should protest. He felt that generally speaking the feeling at the Congressional meeting was one of complete approbation. President had already told the leaders (before this news arrived) that the two carriers had been ordered to the scene; and that Congress, reported the President to Dulles, was “very proud of the fact that we had covered ourselves” and approved of action in sending carriers. He said Congress is in a belligerent mood about this. Dulles said that he himself was glad that something has happened, more than just an exchange of notes.

President said that in addition to the protest, which has to go through the British since we have no diplomatic representation with the Red Chinese, that Dulles should send a very earnest and stiff note to Eden about the whole situation, saying that we were going to have to take a very stiff line—and we hoped they would do the same. If we adopt a stiff one and the British not, it will cause more friction between our countries.³

Dulles will immediately make public protest;⁴ Eisenhower will make no statement at moment.

1. Presumably prepared by Ann Whitman, although the source text does not so indicate.
2. Incorrectly recorded. The two U.S. planes were attacked by two Chinese Communist fighter aircraft, returned the fire, and shot down the two Chinese planes. The U.S. planes were not shot down, and there were no U.Q. casualties.
3. A memorandum of this conversation, prepared by Dulles’ secretary Phyllis Bernau, reads at this point: “The Sec. said he talked with Makins last night, and told him we were going to have to take a stiff line and hoped they will too or it will cause a rift.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Telephone Conversations”)
4. The text of a statement issued that day by Dulles, announcing the incident and stating that the United States planned to protest vigorously, is in Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 9, 1954, p. 196.