890.00/11–1450: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2813. Please pass ECA for Harlan Cleveland. Department’s attention invited to fact that “Colombo Plan for cooperative economic development in South and Southeast Asia” will be published both in official and popular form November 211 and that British Government planning give wide publicity to it, thus raising in acute form question of US attitudes. We have found among Asian representatives here great curiosity about and interest in US position regarding plan and suggest that attitude of Asians toward US might immediately be favorably affected if US should express itself as in favor of aid to Asia and that conversely continued silence on our part might lead Asians to believe US not interested aid to Asia.
Embassy has been glad to learn from Joseph Jones2 latest ECA and Department thinking on aid to Asia. Question arises whether Department may not wish to release to press statement tied to Colombo report at an appropriate time or in any case to give Embassy policy guidance for discussing matter with British Government and press which continues to display lively interest in matter.
Department may quite possibly not wish now give preview its development plan for aid to Asia. On other hand Embassy suggests that publication of Colombo report offers splendid opportunity for doing so and at same time for clarifying a few main points as to desirable relation of US aid to Commonwealth plan. Such a statement could include for example indication that Commonwealth conclusions as to scope and kinds of program seem reasonable from what we, without detailed investigation, have been able to judge. It could make it clear (if as Embassy understands it is our position) that US aid to Asian countries would be administered bilaterally in coordination with local plans and other aid accruing in the individual country, and that we [Page 160] believe there need be no conflict with US or UN assistance. It could specify degree to which US feels it could participate in advisory and consultative group in Colombo. It might with advantage emphasize in same statement that US is already carrying on broad aid programs in SEA and that UN likewise has certain programs and plans for aid to Asia.
Incidentally in informal discussions here British have suggested that bilateral approach is only feasible approach for US aid to Asia. Also we gather impression that British are overwhelmingly interested in application of plan to India and have no design for re-establishing influence in SEA through plan and seem willing to have US continue carry main responsibility for this area.
We feel that substantial political advantage could accrue from clearing up these several points in an early public statement. We realize however that a large strategy is involved and that any public statement on Colombo plan must fit into it.
- Cmd. 8080, The Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia, Report by the Commonwealth Consultative Committee, London, September–October, 1950, was published on November 28, 1950.↩
- Joseph M. Jones, Special Adviser, Economic Analysis Staff, Far East Program Division, Economic Cooperation Administration.↩