Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 1

790B.00/9–451: Telegram

The Ambassador in Burma ( Key ) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Rangoon , September 4, 1951—10 a. m.

252. Embtel 245,¹ and Deptel 213, Aug 31. PriMin sent for me Sept 3 to advise that Cabinet had decided defer reference KMT problem UN until after termination San Francisco Conference² in order forestall any possible attempt USSR del make political capital this development. He said FinMin wld notify me due course before action taken.

PriMin stated GOB appeal would call on UN to induce Taipei Govt to instruct its troops leave Burma and would contain reference to our good offices and sincere though fruitless past efforts to assist in arriving at a satisfactory solution.

PriMin deprecated “double game” played by Thai in permitting arms and supplies to be smuggled to KMT in total disregard of embarrassment thereby caused GOB and despite assurances repeatedly given that arms traffic would be stopped.

In view of foregoing and the way things seem to be shaping up we feel that Dept’s decision (Deptel 213) very sound. We encouraged by this further evidence that PriMin and Cabinet sincerely desirous avoid causing US embarrassment or playing into hands of Commie bloc.

Key

1. See footnote 3, p. 291.
2. The San Francisco Conference, September 4–8, was held to sign a multilateral peace treaty with Japan; for documentation, see pp. 1326 ff.