Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 1

790.5/8–454: Telegram

The Ambassador in Pakistan (Hildreth) to the Department of State¹

secret

Karachi, August 4, 1954—7 p.m.

128. Re Embassy telegram 112.² Summary Embassy views re Pakistan participation SEATO. With each day there are increasing indications Pakistan’s inclination and willingness to join SEATO and increased willingness take initiative persuade Ceylon also join. This in face non-commital attitude Embassy and somewhat negative position Department indicated Deptel 123.³ Embassy believes we have already reached point where it will be awkward seek discourage Pakistan participation and will become more awkward as time goes on.

In Embassy view advantages of policy which counsels Pakistan delay membership very dubious. Available information seems indicate that passage time rather than permitting winning over of India and Indonesia is hardening negative position these powers and giving opposition time in which to move. Nehru’s concept of alternative SEA pact exclusively for Asian powers⁴ appears portend another ACSP type arrangement with similar attitude negation and promise of frustration for United States policy. Initiative which Pakistanis seem willing take holds some promise of permitting launching of SEATO with two Colombo powers as members, which would at least seriously embarrass Nehru project.

If this sound reasoning as Embassy believes seems high time we got started.

Embassy feels obliged note that if Pakistanis take this type initiative with United States encouragement, they will expect returns in form of increased United States political, military, and economic support.⁵

Hildreth

1. Repeated for information to Colombo, Djakarta, London, New Delhi, and Rangoon.
2. Dated Aug. 2. In this telegram the Embassy had reported learning through Major General Cawthorn, the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan, of the interest of Acting Foreign Secretary Hilaly in SEATO, as follows: “Cawthorn said Hilaly showed great eagerness to join SEATO and Cawthorn attributed eagerness to fact GOP always regretted it has not sent troops to Korea and by missing boat was only now getting help from West and prestige it might have gotten three years ago if it had sent troops Korea. Hilaly left Cawthorn with impression he hoped Pakistan would not make same mistake again with SEATO that it had made in Korea.” (790.5/8–254)
3. In this telegram, July 30, the Department had summarized Jernegan’s conversation on July 27 with the Pakistani Ambassador. (790.5/7–3054) For a memorandum of this conversation, see p. 676.
4. In telegram 36 from Colombo, Aug. 2, repeated to Karachi and several other posts for information, Ambassador Crowe had stated: “C. C Desai, Indian High Commissioner, told me today that Nehru is planning submit regional alliance to Colombo powers as alternative to SEATO.” (790.5/8–254)
5. In telegram 129, sent later on Aug. 4, Ambassador Hildreth reported that Prime Minister Ali had told him Pakistan would attend the SEATO meeting: “not a commitment to join but will attend to discuss what might be done.” Hildreth then repeated his opinion that Pakistan would join. (790.5/8–454)