811. Telegram 30 from Geneva1
30. From Johnson.
Hammarskjold saw me this morning to say he wanted continue to coordinate with me on question missing military personnel and Downey and Fecteau. He said with respect missing military personnel someone suggested recently proposed congressional resolution makes it desirable take some new action. However, his view was that as matter now primarily in my hands here and at MAC best that he not cross wires and would do nothing additional unless we asked him. I said I agreed.
With respect Downey and Fecteau same consideration applies. In reply my query as to what he thought he could do he said that as Chou had taken initiative raising their cases with him he could readily go back to Chou with personal communication concerning them. He said argument some made against this was that it would single out Downey and Fecteau from other civilians still held. I said latter consideration did not seem too important to me as Downey and Fecteau were not only covered by agreed announcement but also by Korean armistice and thus within scope U.N. resolution under which he acting. I was therefore inclined to favor such approach by him at this time. [Typeset Page 1378] I did not see it could do any harm and it might do good in indicating that U.N. interest in them still alive. Said I would inform Washington and Ambassador Lodge would be in further touch with him concerning matter.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/7–1157. Confidential; Limit Distribution.↩