Office of the Historian

794A.5/4–1353: Telegram

No. 96
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China1

top secret
Washington, April 13, 1953—6:39 p.m.

827. For Ambassador. Ref Deptel 795.2 You and CINCPAC are assigned joint responsibility obtain at early date required commitment from Chinese Government not to engage in offensive operations considered by US be inimical its best interests. Approach contemplated through appropriate channels to Generalissimo. CINCPAC will concert his efforts with yours. Mode presentation request Chi Govt left your joint discretion. Radford’s belief formal commitment can readily be obtained in view informal understanding along this line which he states already in existence.

First consignment 10 F–84s originally scheduled arrive Formosa from Japan late April, delivery now will be delayed until necessary Chinese commitment obtained. Decision made basis para 13 policy paper on Formosa now before NSC,3 substance of which quote[d] penultimate para reftel (coordinated planning offensive use Chi forces).

Separate message follows re informal agreement to be sought covering US base and anchorage facilities on Formosa.4

Defense understands Radford probably visit Formosa this month or next.

Smith
  1. Repeated to CINCPAC in Honolulu.↩
  2. Telegram 795 to Taipei, Apr. 8, summarized the instructions sent to CINCPAC in JCS telegrams 935782 and 935784, Documents 90 and 91.↩
  3. See footnote 8, Document 86.↩
  4. Telegram 854 to Taipei, Apr. 21, instructed the Embassy to obtain an agreement through an exchange of notes providing for the basing of U.S. aircraft on Formosa. (794A.5/4–2153) No notes were exchanged, but an informal understanding in principle regarding U.S. use of Chinese air bases was reached in discussions of May 25–31 between representatives of CINCPAC and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense; it was reported in despatch 660 from Taipei, Document 112. No action was taken concerning anchorages when it was learned that the Navy had been using anchorages in Formosa and the Pescadores since 1950 with the concurrence of the Chinese Government. (Memorandum by Harrison M. Holland of the Office of Chinese Affairs, Apr. 21; 611.93/4–2153)↩