795.00/4–751
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge of India–Nepal–Ceylon Affairs (Weil)
Subject: Indian Minister-Counselor Kirpalani’s Call on Mr. Rusk: Questions on Korean Developments.
| Participants: | Mr. M. K. Kirpalani, Minister-Counselor, Embassy of India |
| FE—Mr. Rusk | |
| SOA—Mr. Weil |
Mr. Kirpalani called at his request on Mr. Rusk at 10:30 a.m. and remained approximately 20 minutes. Before the substantive conversation began Mr. Rusk told Mr. Kirpalani he was glad to hear an old friend of his, Eric Da Costa, was planning to visit the States.
Mr. Kirpalani said he had been asked by his Prime Minister to obtain background information on press reports of two recent developments—Speaker Rayburn’s announcement that troops, not all of which were Chinese, were being massed on the Manchurian border; and rumors that General MacArthur had received authorization to bomb bases in Manchuria.
Mr. Rusk said the Department understood that some 100,000 new enemy troops were now in North Korea, comprising the Chinese Communist First Field Army. There were also elements of the Third Field Army, and North Korean units which had been reconstituted in Manchuria. He said there were also reports, as yet unconfirmed, that units now in Manchuria included “volunteers” from various parts of the USSR and from Europe, as well as former Japanese POW’s. Mr. Rusk said it was thus difficult to believe that the Chinese Communists were contemplating a negotiated peace at this time.
With reference to instructions to General MacArthur Mr. Rusk said the General had not been authorized to bomb Manchurian bases but that if the enemy launched a substantial air attack on UN forces he would presumably receive such authority. Mr. Rusk reminded Mr. Kirpalani that the US was doing everything possible to limit the [Page 317] area of hostilities but made it clear that in the event of an air campaign against the UN forces these forces would have to be protected. He emphasized the fact that a decision to bomb Manchurian bases would not be made by General MacArthur.
Note: When approached by correspondents following his talk with Mr. Rusk, Mr. Kirpalani said he had come to request information regarding Speaker Rayburn’s statement concerning troops on the Manchurian border, and regarding reports that General MacArthur had been authorized to bomb Manchurian bases. When asked whether Mr. Rusk had confirmed Mr. Kirpalani’s understanding of these developments, Kirpalani told the correspondents that was a question they would have to ask Mr. Rusk.