790.5/9–954
The Ambassador in Ceylon (Crowe) to the Department of State
No. 159
Subject:
- Report of Conversation on September 9, 1954 between Sir Claude Corea, High Commissioner of Ceylon to the United Kingdom and Ambassador Crowe
Sir Claude Corea, due to his long residence in Washington is, I believe, a good friend of America and his opinions therefore can be considered as friendly criticism. During his six weeks visit to [Page 902] Ceylon which terminated this week we have had three separate talks and covered most of the pressing questions of the day. It was not, however, till this morning’s conversation that he really expressed himself forcefully. The matter under discussion was SEATO and should be made a matter of record.
Sir Claude said that in his opinion and in that of most of the Ceylonese Government Great Britain and America were very inept in their presentation of SEATO to the Colombo Powers. He added that if the western powers had taken Ceylon into their confidence and invited her to do the persuading for them in this part of Asia there would not have been the slightest doubt of her joining the pact. Instead of this approach, however, Ceylon was faced with a fait accompli with which she had nothing initially to do.
He said that the efforts of Mr. Dodds-Parker, the Parliamentary Secretary of the United Kingdom Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who recently visited the Island to get Ceylon to go along with SEATO were both ill-timed and unconvincing. …*
Sir Claude said that the Prime Minister is personally for SEATO and it was he that insisted on leaving the door open against the possibility of joining the pact in the future.1
- Asked about the Government’s reaction to the efforts of the diplomatic corps here to swing Ceylon toward SEATO, he said that he had heard no criticism and felt that it was generally accepted that the representatives of France, the United Kingdom and the United States should endeavor to get Ceylon in line with Pakistan. [Footnote in the source text.]↩
Apparent reference to the Government of Ceylon’s communiqué dated Aug. 12, in which it made public its decision not to attend the Manila Conference but stated that it was prepared to maintain an open mind on the subject. For a résumé of the statement, see the New York Times, Aug. 14, 1954, p. 4.
In telegram Secto 25 from Manila, Sept. 25, the delegation reported on a conversation held between the Secretary and Minister Zafrullah Khan. Most of the conversation concerned relations of the United States and Pakistan, but the summary concludes: “Zafrullah believed Ceylon was wavering re SEA pact and probably would have come to Manila if it had not been strongly dissuaded by Indians and he suspected by UK. He mentioned that UK has tried to dissuade him from having more than observer at Manila.” (790.5/9–854)
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