751G.00/3–3154: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
[Received 5: 52 p.m.]
1487. Pillai1 asked me to call today to let me know that Indian press reports of Secretary’s Overseas Press Club speech calling for “united action by the free world to meet the Communist threat in southeast [Page 1194] Asia” has caused some Indian officials to believe US intends to call on various nations to supply fighting forces for Indochina if Geneva conference does not achieve settlement in that area. He said one interpretation was that US would ask UK, France, Australia, and other powers to join us in declaring Monroe Doctrine for southeast Asia. Pillai said he was afraid these officials would present their interpretation to Nehru when he returns to Delhi tomorrow from brief visit to Jaipur, and that Nehru might make some rash and “unhelpful” statement unless he (Pillai) could give him contrary interpretation. Pillai summarized situation by saying that these Indian officials were reading into Secretary’s speech a threat that we would create second Korea in Indochina if Geneva conference failed.
I said I saw no basis for this interpretation whatever. I thought Secretary was reiterating well-known American policy of collective security and was in no way altering President Eisenhower’s declaration that US did not intend to send fighting forces to Indochina. I expressed confidence that if Chinese Communist troops moved in to support Ho Chi-Minh, direct consequences would result, with fighting not limited to Indochina, but that US had no intention of starting any aggressive move.
Pillai said he welcomed my interpretation and would place it before Prime Minister early on his return. He added that if I could obtain confirmation from Washington, his hand would be even more strengthened.
Comment: I was astonished at interpretation Pillai reported and can only surmise that troublemakers like Krishna Menon,2 who just returned, are responsible.