Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Africa and South Asia, Volume XI, Part 1

745A.00/5–252: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India¹

secret

Washington, May 2, 1952—7:59 p.m.

2427. ReDeptel 2143 rptd London 5051 Capetown 223.²Dept May 2 handed Ind Counselor reply Ind aide-mémoire³ re situation South Africa.⁴ US reply contained factual account US position toward question treatment persons of Ind origin in SoAfr, pointing out US “has supported view UN competent consider question” and has recognized procedure offering most promise ultimate settlement differences such as India–SoAfr was direct negots between parties. Referred our support suggestion last GA of appt impartial third party who through conciliation might bring parties into direct negots, and adoption this suggestion in GA Res Jan 12.⁵ Stated US cognizant possibly wide repercussions if tension led conflict but expressed doubt any influence brought by another govt wld be helpful and probability formal representations wld be resented and might exacerbate situation.

Dept saw copy UK aide-mémoire⁶ which in line projected UK reply as reported London’s 4576⁷ to Dept rptd New Delhi 100 and Capetown 15 except no ref to pt C first para⁸ and in addition referred UK doubts re competence of UN in matter.

Acheson

1. This telegram was repeated to London and Capetown.
2. Dated Apr. 8, p. 906.
3. For information on the Indian aide-mémoire, dated Apr. 7, 1952, see ibid.
4. The U.S. aide-mémoire, dated May 2, 1952, and the memorandum of conversation between I. J. Bahadur Singh, Counselor of the Embassy of India, and Donald D. Kennedy, Director of the Office of South Asian Affairs, dated May 2, 1952, are located in file 845A.411/5–252.

5. For documentation concerning the U.S. position on the treatment of people of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa, during the Sixth Session of the UN General Assembly, see Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. ii, pp. 842 ff.

   General Assembly Resolution 511 (VI) of Jan. 12, 1952 is printed in Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixth Session, Supplement No. 20, UN document A/2119.

6. Not printed. The U.K. aide-mémoire, dated Apr. 24, 1952, refused the Indian request on the grounds that such an approach would constitute intervention into the internal affairs of the Union of South Africa, would probably not achieve the objective desired by India, and might exacerbate feeling within the Union of South Africa on this subject. The document also repeated the U.K. position that public discussion of this question within the UN General Assembly was not the best means to secure a settlement, that it was doubtful whether the United Nations had competence to deal with this matter, and that direct negotiations between the parties involved provided the best means for reaching a settlement. (845A.411/5–252)
7. Not printed. (745A.00/4–1052)
8. Reference is to the Embassy in London’s statement that the U.K. aide-mémoire would include the following point: “any such attempt might very seriously embitter South Africa’s relations with UN because of SA resentment.”