357.AB/4–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
priority
2991.1. During talk with Bajpai Apr 26 I remarked reports in press Trigve Lie might visit India near future and asked if they had foundation. Bajpai replied GOI knew nothing such visit. He personally hoped Lie wld not come. No good purpose wld be served. Lie had been singularly inept during visits other countries and now no time for bull in Indian Chi shop. Few Indians respected Lie and difficult them understand why he elected for second term. (Depintels Apr 25, 1 a. m. and 2 a. m.)1
2. I replied I thought I had explained to him some months ago why US had supported Lie re-election. We thought he had done creditable job and it wld be impossible obtain agreement upon successor. Bajpai admitted if Lie had not been re-elected UN might be without SecGen.
3. Altho Bajpai’s comments may not precisely reflect attitude GOI towards Lie visit I doubt he wld have made them if he had not thought that to extent at least they represented approximate views Nehru. I am therefore inclined believe preferable Lie not come India now.2
- Neither printed.↩
- In telegram 473, to Tel Aviv, April 27, not printed, the Department instructed the Embassy to ascertain the plans of Secretary General Lie, who was then in the course of his trip to Europe and the Middle East. If he indicated that he intended to visit India, the Embassy was to inform him that the Department had obtained information that he might receive a cool reception there. The Embassy was also to suggest that he might wish to consider whether this would be an opportune time for such a visit. (357.AB/4–2751)↩