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

793.00/1–1052: Telegram

No. 2
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Burma ¹

secret
priority

Washington , January 15, 1952—6:44 p.m.

611. Embtel 651 Jan 10. Dept believes submission matter KMT troops to UN wld serve no useful purpose and wld be embarrassing to GOB as well as other govts. On two previous occasions US Govt approached Govts Taipei and Bangkok² and according to info available to Dept supply of arms and equipment to troops has been entirely eliminated or reduced to insignificant quantities. Dept has investigated reports of Amers connected with activities Li Mi and has been unable find any US cits involved. Investigation is continuing and suitable steps will be taken prevent any such involvement. It therefore appears that US Govt has already taken most steps that might appropriately be undertaken by Govt not directly concerned.

You may bring these facts to attn FonOff and inquire whether there is any other way in which this govt can be helpful in present situation. You may inform FonOff that Dept has received assurances that Gen Li Mi who has recently been in Taipei will not return either to Burm or to Thai.

You shld also suggest to FonOff that if it shld decide refer matter to UN it consider possibility requesting Peace Observation Commission send team observe activities KMT troops. You shld also mention poss. other dels suggesting that team at same time shld observe Burm Chi border re possible assistance by Chi Commies to Burm insurgents as well as activities KMT troops.

FYI Dept believes further approach to Chi or Thai Govts wld not only be unproductive but wld tend to indicate more concern than wld normally be shown by third country not directly involved. In the case of Thai Dept has every reason to believe smuggling to KMT troops has stopped.

Acheson

1. Repeated to Bangkok, Taipei, London, New Delhi, and to Paris for Ambassador Key.
2. For documentation concerning previous U.S. approaches to the Government of the Republic of China, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. vi, pp. 256 ff., and ibid., 1951, vol. vi, Part 1, pp. 31 ff.; for documentation concerning an approach to the Thai Government, see ibid., pp. 1594 ff.