793B.00/6–1851: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India

top secret

2252. Re London’s 6654 June 181 (being separately repeated New Delhi), FYI Dept believes this discussion London calls for some consultation with UKHC in New Delhi. Therefore inform UKHC:

(1)
US has been touch with reps Tibet who were told we most sympathetic maintenance Tibet autonomy and prepared support any feasible way; we wld officially indicate sympathy for Tibetan position if Dalai Lama rejected agreement, tenor and timing our comment to depend on character Tibetan announcement.
(2)
You may also inform UKHC for his info alone that Tibetans were told attitude GOI is an important element in situation.
(3)
That in connection appeal to UN by Dalai Lama Dept wld support UN consideration if Tibetans decide to initiate.
Emb shld not give any indication manner and time discussions with reps Tibet nor go further than indicated in substantive discussion, although you free give to extent useful reasoning behind our stand.

Suggest GOI be informed para one above. Emb to use discretion approach after consultation suggested above with UKHC.

Acheson
  1. The reference telegram, not printed, reported that the Embassy had given to officials of the British Foreign Office the substance of the first two paragraphs of telegram 3643 from New Delhi (p. 1710) and that the Foreign Office representatives were extremely anxious that the United States should discuss the Tibetan problem with Bajpai; failure to do so, in their opinion, would probably increase the strain in U.S.-Indian relations and “may result in Nehru washing his hands entirely of Tibetan problem” (793B.00/6–1851).