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

690B.9321/3–1654: Telegram

No. 155
The Ambassador in Burma (Sebald) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Rangoon, March 16, 1954—6 p.m.

906. Mytel 890.² Permanent Secretary Foreign Office gave me reply today re southern evacuation. Following is substance text informal memo.

Begin text. GUB have as yet no troops operating in Myawaddi-Palu area and if KMT troops desire in meantime to assemble and evacuate from Palu GUB undertake not to attack Palu and area one mile north, two miles west and four miles south of Palu either from the air or from ground until April 10 provided KMT troops also respect the cease-fire. This undertaking however is without prejudice to operations which may be launched by Burmese Government in other places east of Dawna range. GUB desire also to mention that according PVO information received by them KMT troops have fallen out with KNDOs and as such cease-fire undertaking is given only on behalf of Burmese Armed Forces and no responsibility should be placed on them for acts perpetrated by KNDOs and other insurgent elements. GUB hope that evacuation of KMT troops from Palu will be accomplished speedily and peacefully. End text.

Permanent Secretary said above undertaking effective immediately although he understood from Bangkok main Tachilek operation will be completed approximately March 18 and control personnel would probably require several days shift south.

Sebald

1. Repeated to Bangkok and Taipei.
2. Document 153.