793B.00/10–151: Telegram
The Consul General at Calcutta (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
185. Last evening Linn and I showed [name deleted], who had just arrived from Kalimpong, ltr addressed to Dalai Lama and signed by Amb Henderson. Harrer who interpreted was only other person present. Instrs Deptel 128 September 14 as amended New Delhi’s 1023 September 17 to Dept and Emb Itr same date1 were strictly followed and after [name deleted] had studied ltr thoroughly and made notes in Tib ltr was replaced in our safe.
[Name deleted] said he was returning in next few days to Kalimpong and then would take about 14 days to reach Lhasa. On arrival Lhasa he [Page 1816] will see Ngapho, Ragashar and 3 or 4 other high ranking officials including two PriMins, Nukhang (lay) and Lobsang Trashi (monk). He will also see Dalai Lama’s brother Lobsang. [Name deleted] can not approach DL in first instance but is convinced that approach through foregoing officials will be effective and that they will be impressed by his swearing he has seen Amb’s ltr. Later he may see DL. [Name deleted] will also attempt arouse support powerful Abbot and other influential elements.
[Name deleted] has just recd ltr from Lhasa reporting there are now 400 Chi troops in Lhasa. He thinks these are probably pro-Chi Tibs from east Tibet.
Although not a dynamic individual, [name deleted] impressed us as responsible and as fully aware of importance of mission which is obviously fraught with certain personal dangers for him.
Sent Dept 185, rptd info New Dehli 158.
- Neither printed. Telegram 1023 from New Delhi stated that, unless the Department objected, Harrer would be used as an interpreter when the letter was shown to the Tibetan official (793B.00/9–1751). The Embassy’s letter of September 17, from Henderson to Garrett H. Soulen, Consul at Calcutta, enclosed a signed letter addressed to the Dalai Lama and instructed the Consulate General to show it to the Tibetan official but to keep it in U.S. official hands at all times. Copies of both letters were enclosed with despatch 662 from New Delhi, September 18, 1951, not printed (793B.00/9–185). For text of telegram 128, see p. 1807.↩