Cable from Wang Bingnan, 'Request for Instructions on the American Invitation to Ambassador Wang to Have a Meal on Monday'

Top Secret

[To the] Foreign Ministry:

At the 8th Meeting, the other side seems to understand:

1) We could make no more concession regarding the agreement;

2) [We’ll] release the US nationals after an agreement is reached;

3) It is impossible for us to release all of the American nationals. The other party’s attitude was more flexible at the ninth meeting today. He wanted to confirm some issues, such as a specific period of time required to review the remaining cases of American nationals. After the meeting, the US representative invited me for a meal at his villa on the outskirts [of Geneva] so that we could exchange ideas more freely. To avoid journalist inquiries, only one interpreter from each side will be in [our] company. I told him that I would respond formally tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. (on the 21st). It seems that the other side has many difficulties and wants to socialize with me. How should I respond? Please give instructions immediately.

I will send a separate report on the eighth meeting.

Wang Bingnan

12:00 noon, 20 August [1955]