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

293.1111/9–2954: Telegram

No. 308
The Consul General at Geneva (Gowen) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Geneva, September 29, 1954—6 p.m.

273. Re Deptels 230² and 231 and 259,³ September 22. Shillock with Jason as French interpreter met today with Chinese Communist Consul Hsiah and interpreters Yeh and Yung at Beaurivage Hotel as requested by us. Our statements followed closely lines Deptel 230. We also mentioned Haeslop case which Hsiah said he would note. Hsiah’s reaction to our protest was quite unemotional all he did being confined to having his interpreters write down in full what we told him.

Reading from prepared statement Hsiah then stated that Dixon, Applegate and Krasner had intruded into Chinese territory and had consequently been arrested and deported in due course. He added Hugh Redmond had been found guilty of spying and sentenced to life in prison. Upon our reiterating protest and request reconsideration Redmond case Hsiah said that if Redmond’s future attitude and conduct were found satisfactory by Chinese authorities his case might then be reconsidered. Replying our statement Chinese Communists have unfortunately been in habit regarding all foreigners as spies Hsiah said his government protects all foreigners in China who respect Chinese laws.

Hsiah stressed his hope receive early news concerning additional Chinese permitted depart from US. He then specifically inquired whether 26 Chinese students who petitioned President Eisenhower by letter August 5 (re London’s despatch 682, September 6)⁴ had yet received permission depart pointing out they had long been separated their families. We replied student cases still being carefully reviewed and that we would inform them developments in due course.⁵

Fact that Hsiah had prepared written statements concerning Dixon, Applegate, Krasner and Redmond cases show that he wished to talk to us about same questions for which we wanted discuss with him. Meeting lasted about thirty minutes. General atmosphere restrained and formal.

Gowen

1. Repeated for information to London and Hong Kong.
2. Telegram 230 to Geneva, Sept. 21, instructed the Consulate General to call a meeting between Shillock and Hsia to discuss recent Chinese Communist actions concerning U.S. nationals in China. Shillock was to express restrained gratitude for the release of Richard Applegate, Donald M. Dixon, and Benjamin Krasner, three Americans who had been captured in March 1953 while sailing on a yacht from Hong Kong to Macao, and to protest the sentencing of another American, Hugh F. Redmond, to life imprisonment. (293.1111/9–2154)
3. Telegrams 231 and 259 are not printed.
4. Not printed.
5. The fourth meeting between Shillock and Hsiah was held Oct. 18 at U.S. initiative. At that meeting Shillock informed Hsiah that six Chinese students had left the United States and that five others had made arrangements for departure, gave him the names of five additional Chinese whose departure had been authorized, and told him that all students were free to apply for departure at any time. The Department’s instructions were sent to Geneva in telegram 307, Oct. 15; the meeting was reported in telegram 325 from Geneva, Oct. 18, 1954. (293.1111/10–1554 and 293.1111/10–1854)