623. Letter from Johnson to McConaughy1
Bob Ekvall has received a letter from Ted Liu who was principal Chinese interpreter at Panmunjom. He is finishing up his M.A. degree at Columbia in June and will be looking for a job. At present he says he is being considered by USIA and the National Security Agency and has asked Bob for his advice on any other places that he might look. Bob says that he is absolutely tops as an interpreter as well as a person.
With reference to my previously expressed thought, that the Department should be looking toward obtaining a first class Chinese interpreter, this seems to me like an excellent opportunity. At my suggestion, Bob is therefore writing to him suggesting that he see Ralph Clough. I am enclosing the Curriculum Vita that he sent to Bob.
I Just received Ralph’s letter enclosing Marguerite Higgins article on prisoners. This is, of course, most unfortunate and disturbing after the success we have had in recent months in keeping out of the press. I have not yet seen the article in the Paris edition of the Herald Tribune but presume that whether or not it appears there it will certainly fall into the hands of the Chinese. If I receive any inquiries on it here I plan to say nothing whatever.
Sincerely yours,
American Ambassador
Enc.
Curriculum Vita of Theodore M. Liu
- Source: Department of State, Geneva Talks Files, Lot 72D415. Official Use Only; Official–Informal.↩