763. Telegram 597 from Geneva1
597. From Johnson.
It seems to me draft press release Deptel 640 unjustifiably tends give virtually entire share of credit for release to India and thus deprecates US Govt’s efforts as well as UK role.
Accordingly suggest text first draft be revised along following lines:
“The Dept of State is gratified to learn that the ten American citizens so long unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communists have finally been released in belated fulfillment of their commitment of Sept 10 1955 at Geneva.
“Only now after fourteen months of repeated representations in the Ambassadorial talks in Geneva, of efforts by the UK representative in Peiping in accordance with the agreed announcement of Sept 10 1955 have the Communist Chinese permitted these Americans to return. The American people are most appreciative of the influence exerted by the Govt of India and other govts in prevailing upon the Chinese Communists to abide by this agreement.
[Typeset Page 1275]“We hope that this long delayed action foreshadows a willingness on the part of the Chinese Communists to make and to abide by a meaningful renunciation of force to include the Taiwan area and thus contribute to the preservation of peace in the Far East.”
[Facsimile Page 2]Suggest text second draft be revised along following lines:
“We are glad that at long last these American citizens are free. We have all been distressed by the sufferings which they and others have unjustly endured under the Chinese Communists. If the Chinese Communists had honored their pledge of Sept 10 1955 they, and the (blank) others who still remain in Communist jails should have been free long ago.
“Only now after fourteen months of repeated representations in the Ambassadorial talks at Geneva and efforts by the UK representative in Peiping, in accordance with the agreed announcement of Sept 10 1955, have the Chinese Communists taken this step toward carrying out that agreement.
“The American people are most appreciative of the influence exerted by the Indian Govt and other govts in prevailing upon the Chinese Communists to permit these Americans to return.” Last two paragraphs as in Dept’s draft.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/12–1256. Confidential; Limit Distribution.↩