388. Telegram 1329 to Geneva1
1329. For Johnson.
Guidance for December 1 meeting.
1. Implementation. If consonant with situation at time of meeting, impress on Wang there has been no progress this respect since last meeting. No additional Americans released, no more letters received by British Charge from imprisoned Americans. US Government takes serious view of PRC’s unjustifiable delay in implementing its clear commitment under Agreed Announcement. Cite Bradshaw case as evidence personal hardship individuals suffering through PRC’s delay.
2. Renunciation of Force. While Wang’s hard line at last meeting may presage break in talks or resort to publicity, we believe it may also be deliberate pressure tactic to determine whether we will give any on our draft. PRC would seem not to be in strong position either break off talks or go to public at this moment. Believe we should hold firm on our draft for at least one more meeting. Wang’s only criticism our draft has been on ground that it would preclude PRC use of force in Taiwan area, which would be true of any draft we presented.
[Facsimile Page 2]You should follow tactics suggested your 1214 (omitting introduction revised draft), with strong attack on ultimatum aspects his position. Without acceding to his insistence that you negotiate on basis his draft, it might be useful probe vigorously to see whether he has any negotiating latitude with respect to it. Press hard on basic defect his draft which is failure apply renunciation force principle to Taiwan area. Argumentation you used last meeting was excellent and you should continue along this general line.
You may wish to point out that Wang has endeavored separate issue in Taiwan area into two parts (paragraphs 46 to 48 your 1215). The first part he claims is a domestic issue which concerns only the Communists and the Nationalists and in which he retains complete freedom to use force in that area. The second part he defines as an international question involving issues between the Communists and United States. As to this the Communists are willing to renounce the use of force. By this formulation, the Communists seek to deprive the United States of its right to use force in collective self defense, an inherent right recognized by the Charter, while preserving to the Communists entire freedom to [Typeset Page 545] use force to take Taiwan any time they wish. [Facsimile Page 3] This Communist tactic appears designed to handcuff the United States by pious expressions of the renunciation of force to settle disputes while reserving to itself complete freedom to use force to take Taiwan whenever it wishes. This entirely defeats object of seeking declaration on renunciation of force in the Taiwan area which was designed not as a verbal exercise but to remove in fact threat of armed conflict there and thus permit progress in discussion on other practical issues.
Re your 1216, Department considering advisability introduction revised draft at later meeting if deemed essential to forestall break. In any event any changed formulation should not affect our basic position that both sides must renounce force in Taiwan area, and do this before there can be fruitful discussions other issues.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/11–2955. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Clough; cleared by Sebald and in draft by Robertson, Dulles, and Phleger.↩