790B.00/3–1852: Telegram
No. 16
The Ambassador in India (Bowles) to the Department of State1
3382. From vantage point Delhi we are profoundly disturbed at recent suggestions US shld in one form or another be engaged in supporting guerrilla action in SEA against Commie Chi (Saigon tel 1541, Feb. 4, and Hong Kong tel 2551, Feb. 29 to Dept).
During last few weeks Nehru and other high GOI officials have shown increasing understanding US position re Commie Chi. Panikkar has been instructed to urge Chi Commies to modify their position on Korea (Embtel 3362, Mar. 18).2 Nehru recently indicated, when questioned by press re KMT troops in Burma, he believed govt assistance was not being given by US and UK (Embdes 2088, March 3).3
It seems to me US assistance to guerrillas might prejudice possibility Korea truce and will surely convince Nehru there was some substance to charge US had aggressive intentions on Chi mainland, and that we are playing with fire.
I cannot believe it wld be advantageous for us to risk losing growing GOI support because of belief guerrillas might prove useful to us at some unforeseeable future date. It seems more important continue to build solid base of trust and understanding with India and other non-Communist Asian countries than to base US plans on disorganized groups Chi Nationalist troops in wilds of Burma or Yunnan.
In addition doubt will certainly be cast on honesty my repeated assurances to GOI we were not now involved in such activities. Any effectiveness I possess with GOI wld be undermined and serious questions wld be raised re US integrity.