Cable from Wang Bingnan, 'Opinions on the American Proposal to Postpone the 12th Meeting of the Talks'

[To the] Foreign Ministry:

This morning, the US side requested to postpone the twelfth meeting from the 27th to the 31st [of August], putting off two regular meetings. It is likely that the US side has not reached its goal on the issue of setting a time limit after the private talk and the tenth and eleventh meetings. It thus needs further consideration of the issue before making a decision. Prior to the twelfth meeting, the US side might take the following actions: 1) Attempt to persuade us through a third party. 2) Hope that we would study Dulles’ speech from today, which might touch on the Sino-American talks. 3) There is no consensus on the US side on the issue. Thus, it needs more time to adjust and consider it for a final decision. It is unlikely that the US side would bargain again at the twelfth meeting. The positive outcome is to reach an agreement so as to move on to the second agenda. The negative outcome is to propose a recess, indicating unwillingness to make further concessions. [The US side wants to indicate] that if the issue of American nationals is not satisfied, it would not be beneficial to the discussion of Agenda II. Because the disarmament conference and the foreign ministers’ conference are forthcoming, it is unlikely that the Sino-American talks would be further put off. In sum, after the eleventh talk, we are very familiar with the issues regarding Agenda I. It is time to make a final decision. Since I am not in full grasp of the documents, I proposed the above opinions. Are they fitting? Please give instructions.

Wang Bingnan

10:30 a.m., 26 August [1955]