Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 2

690B.9321/12–1853: Telegram

No. 138
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Burma¹

secret
priority

Washington, December 18, 1953—7:05 p.m.

537.

• Part I.

  Concur interim action Rangoon’s 588 Bangkok 132 Taipei 116² pending receipt requested Chinese proposals. Rangoon make every effort keep question open but without engaging US good faith. While we working crystallize Chinese offer produce many evacuees as possible, consonant UN resolution and US policy, our role limited good offices and not underwriting Chinese offer or jungle generals.

  Hope GUB will continue cease-fire present basis but recognize public opinion may demand new basis. Event cease-fire not immediately renewed, Embassy urge GUB refrain any precipitous military action which could make further solution impossible. If Chinese proposals forthcoming and satisfactory, concur Embassy urge formal Burmese re-entry participation in four-power planning.

• Part II.

  Our 560 to Taipei, 534 Rangoon, 1231 Bangkok.³ Department urges Chinese proposals be prompt and convincing. Request for general cease-fire (Taipei’s 349)⁴ appears out of question in view attitude GUB. Should ask only that GUB guarantee safety all evacuees through measures to be agreed on in committee by all concerned. Proposals should also include iron-clad commitment on weapons, to be turned over to Joint Committee for transport Formosa if necessary (Taipei’s 354⁵ and sections 4 and 7 Bangkok’s 1233⁶).

  Embassy Taipei continue press for token evacuation December interim as earnest good faith, also to push forward January 15 date if possible (Taipei’s 354).

• Part III.

  Funds are available for start and Department will endeavor insure more forthcoming if needed. Embassy Taipei stress principle no money will be paid out, either for bonuses or “debts”, excepting on basis value received. Results will be only criterion.

  Method of paying bonuses should properly be proposed by Joint Committee.

Dulles

1. Also sent to Taipei and Bangkok.
2. Dated Dec. 18; it recommended that the Embassy in Rangoon inform the Burmese Government that the Chinese Government had expressed optimism about evacuating a substantial number of additional troops, that the United States had not yet received a concrete proposal but that it hoped to receive more information in the near future. Sebald thought the Burmese Government would not resume the fighting for a reasonable period under these circumstances. (690B.9321/12–1853)
3. Telegram 560, Dec. 18, concurred in telegram 1240 from Bangkok (see footnote 3, supra) and the first recommendation of telegram 581 from Rangoon (Document 136). (690B.9321/12–1853)
4. Document 135.
5. Dated Dec. 17; it reported that Jones attended a conference with officials of the Foreign and Defense Ministries at which proposals from the generals in Burma were presented. They proposed to evacuate 2,000 men beginning Jan. 15, requested $250,000 to pay their debts and to reimburse individual soldiers for their personal property, and stated that they would turn their arms over to the Joint Committee for shipment to Formosa. (690B.9321/12–1753)
6. The sections under reference in telegram 1233, Dec. 17, suggested that the evacuees’ arms might be sealed by the Joint Committee and shipped either through Thailand or Burma to Taiwan. (690B.9321/12–1753)