893.01/12–249: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—4:25 a. m.]
1489. 1. During conversation with Bajpai on December 1 he referred to telegram which GOI had sent to Madame Pandit stating its position re Chinese recognition and instructing matter be discussed with State Department (see Embtel 1439, November 2157). He said no indication as yet received of US reaction.
2. Bajpai added that similar telegrams sent simultaneously various members of Commonwealth and Burma. UK was anxious for early recognition, Pakistan agreed to early recognition in principle but planned to send more complete statement of policy, Ceylon agreed with India’s position and also prepared to recognize; Australia had replied not prepared state its policy until after elections since it was only caretaker government; although New Zealand had not replied thus far, it was believed reply would be negative. Burma was so anxious to recognize that GOI had difficulty in persuading it to wait until latter part of month. He did not mention Canada.
3. I asked Bajpai re GOI’s communication to Chinese Communist Government re Ward arrest. He said instructions reached Indian representative China just as Ward was released and that representative instead of delivering message asked Delhi for further instructions. He has now been instructed to deliver message regardless release in order to impress on Chinese Communists seriousness of arrest of diplomatic or consular officials. No confirmation yet received that Indian representative had delivered message. I considered it inopportune to press for details re substance of message. Plan to do so when informed that message has been delivered.
- Not printed.↩