446E.9331/9–1752: Telegram
The Ambassador in Ceylon (Satterthwaite) to the Department of State
120. Prior receipt Deptel 85 Sept 131 I Had expressed to Vaithianathan along line suggested therein, my regret that GOC was sending mission to Commie China and will at first opportunity express similar view to PriMin. Gufler and Black have also consistently made these points in conversations with responsible Ceylon officials and MEA is well aware our feeling on this subj.
We have not however issued press statement as local press fully aware US position and as previously reported is hinting we have brought strong pressure on GOC to prevent mission’s departure. We therefore consider it unwise to stir up further controversy in which press wld in all probability be unanimous in attacking our position.
As long as present econ and food crisis prevails we must expect any measure taken by GOC holding forth any prospect obtaining additional rice and higher prices for Ceylon products especially rubber to be popular. Any efforts on our part criticize mission publicly wld therefore be likely produce contrary results and might also prevent us from obtaining on their return from otherwise friendly officials participating in mission frank reports their impressions. We can only hope these officials will learn at first hand some of dangers and difficulties involved [Page 1541] in dealing with Commie dictatorships and we have reason believe that more responsible members govt share this feeling.
- Not printed; it requested that the Embassy express to the Ceylonese Ministry of External Affairs that it was regrettable that Ceylon was pursuing negotiations with Communist China which would not only hurt the free world effort in Korea but would also result in subjecting Ceylon to the political designs of the Communist bloc (446E.9331/9–1352).↩