609. Telegram 1895 from Geneva1
Geneva, May 17, 1956,
noon
1895. From Johnson.
- 1.
- Two hour meeting this morning which I opened with prepared statement making generalized attack on his May 11 draft. I pointed to complete lack “accommodation” our position and characterized draft as retrogression from not only our draft of April 19 but also his draft Dec 1. Closed by urging consideration April 19 draft making points contained para 3 Deptel 1994.
- 2.
- In give and take he repeated points made last meeting and made concerted effort to draw me into specific discussion particularly on first para May 11 draft, closing by hope I would have detailed comments next meeting. In course this discussion Wang in referring to “peaceful aspirations” PRC stated “will not tolerate present situation (in Taiwan area) for long without applying solution” and if US sincere can it “desire these talks drag on indefinitely”?
- 3.
- During give and take I avoided specific discussion details May 11
draft focusing on their unwillingness renounce FMC Taiwan area and
continually urging April 19 draft as unobjectionable statement if
they accepted this principle. Characterized May 11 draft as nothing
more than their original position FMC on Taiwan area while they
preserved option use force there. Said US never would accept this
position.
Urged they reconsider their position by next meeting. - 4.
- Reply my statement again calling for release 13 he said hoped I would be able give him information on Chinese prisoners in US, “this was undertaken by US in agreed announcement”.
- 5.
- Next meeting Thursday May 24.
- 6.
- Proceeding Prague Friday morning, returning Tuesday or Wednesday.
Gowen
Note: Mr. Waddell’s office (FE) notified 5/17/3:25 p.m. EMB (CWO)
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/5–1756. Confidential; Priority; Limit Distribution.↩