793.00/10–1854: Telegram
No. 349
The Ambassador in the Republic of
China (Rankin) to the Department of
State
priority
281. Eyes only Assistant Secretary Robertson. Deptel 2441 and Taipei’s 277.2 President Chiang returned to Taipei this morning to attend military ceremony after being in country over Sunday. Acting Foreign Minister expects see him this afternoon or evening re Soviet resolution on US “aggression” and its impact on prospective New Zealand resolution.
Meanwhile Acting Foreign Minister Shen, Vice Minister Shih and Treaty Department Director Hsueh met last night and prepared memo for President’s consideration. Shen summarized it for me orally at noon today.
Memo covers much same ground as mytel 277 but is longer. It adds fourth Soviet motivation: To embarrass US Administration immediately before November elections. Memo goes on to note Soviet agreement to give up Port Arthur intended to contrast with “aggressive” US policy but observes Port Arthur has lost much of its former military significance and actually would remain at disposal of Soviets if they wished. Memo also mentions Khrushchev’s remarks re liberation of Formosa and joint announcement on new railway construction in Central Asia—obviously for military purposes—as further evidence of Commies war-like intentions.
Shen made final remark in form of query: What would be effect of mildly worded resolution introduced by small country (New Zealand) and directed at two Chinas compared to strongly phrased condemnation of one of two major powers (US) already proposed by other (Soviet Union)?
- See footnote 1, supra.↩
- Supra.↩