“Soft Response”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28685, 8 September 1958, Page 11

“Soft Response”

An American Associated Press report said that thus, the United States sought to respond softly to the first break in the weeks-long Formosa crisis which has threatened to engulf the United States in war with China,-if not ultimately The Soviet Union.

The United States-China talks "previously had been held at Geneva in neutral Switzerland. Yesterday’s move proposed holding them behind the Iron Curtain for the first time.

But the White House statement emphasised that the United States adhered to its position that it would agree to nothing in the talks which would prejudice the rights of Nationalist China.

Ambassadorial talks between the United States and China have been going on intermittently in Geneva since August, 1955. They were suspended in effect last December when Mr Alexis Johnson, the United States Ambassador who had been representing the United States, was transferred to another post and no other Ambassador was, named to take his place. The United States told the Peking Government at the time that it was prepared to continue the talks with a diplomat of lower rank pending appointment of a new representative of ambassador’s rank. But Communist China refused to continue the talks on this basis.

, Late last July, however, the United States told Communist China it was prepared to con- • tinue the talks -in Warsaw with , Mr Jacob Beam, the United States ■ Ambassador, to Poland, repreI senting the United States. ■. n Sinw that time life ?taiks none- ■ thbless remained in suspense.

United States officials noted today that Mr Johnson during the Geneva meetings had no fewer than 54 times called upon the Peking Government to renounce the use of force in the Formosa area, without success. The ambassadorial talks have been largely limited to this issue and to discussion of Communist Chinese detention of United States citizens.

There was litUe prospect, according to officials, tljat if and when the ambassadorial talks were resumed the United States would be willing under present conditions to discuss broader issues.