464. Telegram 1416 from Geneva1
1416. From Johnson.
Wang sent me 3:30 p.m. today copies long Foreign Ministry statement January 24 replying Dept’s Jan 21 statement. Presume Dept receiving via FBIS.
[Typeset Page 684]Statement contains little new apart from slight hardening and amplification of line:
“Situation in which one side faithfully executes agreement while other side unscrupulously violates it is not permitted continue for long”.
“China has consistently stood for respecting right of each country to individual and collective self-defense . . . However, on Chinese territory of Taiwan, can be no question of self-defense so far as US concerned.”
“Ambassadorial talks have proved incapable of settling such major substantive question as relaxation and elimination tension in Taiwan area. Chinese side holds that Sino-American conference of Foreign Ministers must be held, as this is practical and feasible means for settling this question”.
Statement ends: “Should US persist in such unreasonable demand and drag out talks without any settlement, US must bear responsibility for all consequences”.
I making no comment here.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/1–2456. Official Use Only; Priority.↩