25. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Burma1
785. Joint Defense, USIA, ICA, State message. Rangoon’s 60 to Bangkok repeated information Department 886 Taipei 4 Vientiane 23 Chiengmai unnumbered.2 As field personnel aware, US relations with Burma in past have been strained because of alleged US involvement with elements in armed opposition against Government of Burma. Giving these allegations substance seriously jeopardizes our friendly relations with Burma and militates against achievement US policy objectives in Southeast Asia. All US mission personnel therefore should scrupulously avoid contact with groups or individuals who may be involved insurrectionary activities Burma including remnant Chinese irregulars. Violation Burmese territorial sovereignty by American officials is inexcusable and trust all US personnel in future will respect territorial integrity friendly state. Should US personnel knowingly or unwittingly become involved actions counter to these instructions chief of mission concerned should immediately report details Washington by telegram.
Instructions re Embassy Rangoon reply Foreign Office démarche forthcoming after Department has received and reviewed Bangkok’s comments on reference telegram.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 690B.9321/2–456. Also sent to Bangkok, Taipei, Vientiane, and Chiengmai. Confidential.↩
- Telegram 60, February 4, reported that the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office, U Tun Shein, under instructions from U Nu, had told Satterthwaite that the Burmese Government had information that Karen rebels in southeastern Burma had been obtaining supplies in Thailand and carrying on negotiations with Chinese Nationalist irregular troops in Burma and that U.S. military personnel in Thailand had been in contact with the Karen rebels and had crossed the Burmese border and held conversations with the rebel leaders. (Ibid.)↩