What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a December nineteen-fifty-nine memorandum from the United States Intelligence Community concerning intelligence on China, and talking points for a meeting with Ambassador Yeh. This declassified document is available from The Black Vault archives at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document, originally marked "Secret," was released under the Freedom of Information Act. It details U.S. intelligence assessments and strategic considerations regarding China in the late nineteen-fifties, providing insight into the diplomatic and covert activities of the era. The memorandum was declassified by the A-A-R-O, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. The document, titled "Talking Papers for Your December Sixteen Meeting with Ambassador Yeh, Includes Attachments," is a five-page memorandum dated December fifteenth, nineteen-fifty-nine. It opens with "Talking papers for your meeting with G-R-G Yeh," and begins discussing "the question of whether [redacted] should ask for some 'personal, informal' views of [redacted] during [redacted]'s visit to Taiwan." It notes that [redacted] "is considered a 'friend' of the [redacted] and [redacted] is said to have aims for the [redacted] recommending that [redacted] not make any visit with the [redacted]." The document continues, "It was agreed at a recent meeting with [redacted] that further representations to [redacted] offer little hope of persuading the Chinese than our estimates indicate. The most promising approach at this point would be to speak with [redacted] with respect to the [redacted] question. Our recent discussion on December first concluded that we should avoid any efforts aimed at utilizing the [redacted] position of the [redacted] in relation to [redacted]. This seems to us to be in clear contravention of the [redacted] aim not to maintain any relations with the [redacted], and would prove highly embarrassing to the [redacted]." Further, "During [redacted]'s meeting with [redacted], he desired to reiterate his remarks to [redacted] and will continue to give full support to [redacted] so long as it is directed to the objective of political means, peaceful and open morning delivery of pamphlets. We know that the United States military authorities in deployment of these Special Forces would, of course, be by agreement. As of December tenth, nineteen-fifty-nine, we have received a number of reports of Chinese agents having infiltrated into the Chinese [redacted] operations. These operations have in numerous instances shown to involve [redacted]." The document concludes this section by stating, "The continued support of these activities by the [redacted] in the face of strong opposition by the United States and the free world community, and one which we do not wish to encourage, moreover, will give the [redacted] the argument that they must obtain [redacted]." The U.S. Intelligence Community has issued a statement noting that this document reflects a period of…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

CIA Today, We Examine A December Nineteen Fifty Nine Memorandum From The United

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a December nineteen-fifty-nine memorandum from the United States Intelligence Community concerning intelligence on China, and talking points for a meeting with Ambassador Yeh. com. This document, originally marked "Secret," was released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Date: SEP 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a December nineteen-fifty-nine memorandum from the United States Intelligence Community concerning intelligence on China, and talking points for a meeting with Ambassador Yeh. This declassified document is available from The Black Vault archives at…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Today, We Examine A December Nineteen Fifty Nine Memorandum From The United about?: This is Declassified. Today, we examine a December nineteen-fifty-nine memorandum from the United States Intelligence Community concerning intelligence on China, and talking points for a meeting with Ambassador Yeh. com. This document, originally marked "Secret," was released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

CIA Today, We Examine A December Nineteen Fifty Nine Memorandum From The United

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA This Declassified Central Intelligence Bulletin, Issued By The C I A On July

National Security Agency Memorandum Dated August Third, Nineteen Fifty‑nine

CIA C I A Record Concerning The Threat Of Chinese Communist Air Power, A Top

Army: Critical Areas

CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified Central Intelligence

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA This Declassified Central Intelligence Bulletin, Issued By The C I A On July

National Security Agency Memorandum Dated August Third, Nineteen Fifty‑nine

CIA C I A Record Concerning The Threat Of Chinese Communist Air Power, A Top

Army: Critical Areas

CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified Central Intelligence

Get the next declassified case in your inbox