Office of the Historian

790.00/4–1654: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Burma1

secret
Washington, April 16, 1954—4:14 p.m.

943. Your 1002 rptd Saigon by Dept.2 Concur in desirability your encouraging Burmese attitudes and action re Indochina favorable to US policies.

When Asian Socialists plans for mission to Indochina3 crystallize Dept prepared request Embassy Saigon if sees no objection approach French and Associated States authorities with view to facilitating mission and suggesting representatives Associated States visit Burma.

For discussions with Kyaw Nyein4 believe US position adequately set forth in 1) Secretary’s Overseas Press Club speech March 29; 2) Joint US–UK communiqué issued London April 12;5 3) Joint Franco-American communiqué issued Paris April 14.6 You are authorized inform Kyaw Nyein of Secretary’s position in terms outlined Deptel 9072 summarizing his conversation with Ambassador Barrington April 8.7 Two points you may find useful to stress are 1) effort to establish unity of defensive purpose includes consideration of measures within framework of UN charter. 2) US believes essential for long-range solution there be adequate guarantees of complete independence for Associated States.

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For your information Indonesian Ambassador Washington expressed to Secretary April 8 realization of importance from Indonesian viewpoint saving Indochina from Communism. On other hand Indonesian Prime Minister told press he could not see danger to Indonesia of Viet Minh triumph in its struggle against “France”.8

Smith
  1. Repeated for information to Paris and Saigon.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. A number of Asian socialist parties, including Burma’s governing Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League, were planning a conference originally scheduled to be held at Bandung, Indonesia, late in April. The organizers of the conference were planning also a study mission to Indochina, to commence after the conference.↩
  4. Foreign Minister of Burma.↩
  5. The statement was issued Apr. 13. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 26, 1954, p. 622.↩
  6. Ibid.↩
  7. Not printed.↩
  8. See footnote 1, p. 406.↩

  9. In telegram 1023 from Rangoon, Apr. 21, Ambassador William J. Sebald stated that although the socialist conference had been postponed (until late May at Kalaw, Burma), he had nonetheless spoken to Minister Nyein along the lines suggested above. He continued: “Kyaw Nyein appeared most interested in possibility eventual formation collective security arrangement but volunteered statement GUB unprepared take any active part Indochina problem at this time. Most appreciative being kept informed, terminated interview by jocularly remarked [remarking?] GUB had better await developments.

    “Comment: Believe Kyaw Nyein has realistic views re Indochina situation and its possible effect upon Burma but in consonance with GUB neutral policy will be super-cautious and shy away from active participation ‘united action’ concept. Recommend however Burma be kept appropriately informed US position as progress made in order obviate impression Burma being ignored in matter of intimate and direct concern all SEA countries.” (751G.00/4–2154)

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