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

320/1–2932: Telegram

No. 3
The Chargé in Burma (Day) to the Department of State¹

secret

Rangoon, January 29, 1952—5 p.m.

750. Embtel 729 Jan 25² rptd Taipei 14 Bangkok 52 from Rangoon, info Depcirtel 647 Jan 22³ and text proposed US challenge to Vishinsky charges⁴ conveyed to FonOff January 25, PermSec merely asked proposed timing.

FonMin Jan 28 gave me aide-mémoire⁵ saying FonOff asked approach Emb with view request US Govt use good offices persuade “if not to bring possible pressure to bear on Taipei Govt” order KMT troops leave Burma or surrender; if order issued GOB prepared make order known to troops; if for withdrawal GOB wld let six mil observers see done orderly manner; FonOff also requests US Govt persuade Thailand permit withdrawal thru Thailand. Knowing our helpful friendship FonOff hopes US Govt will do all can “in interests internatl peace”.

Aide-mémoire differs from Ne Win proposals in (1) adding “surrender”, (2) making no mention arms ammo, (3) not specifying six observers be from Taipei.

Comment: In talk with FonMin Jan 26 we discussed Ne Win proposal informally. He had just heard of it. I mentioned uncertainty all if any troops obey order and practical questions of food, arms, disciplines, transport. Asked if GOB not willing negotiate direct with Thailand. FonMin suggested Burma UK and US might cooperate in making arrangement with Thailand if any initial steps under proposal offered prospect success.

Despite view Deptel 611 Jan 15 conveyed earlier to FonOff that US Govt has taken all appropriate steps recommend serious consideration proposal as evidence our genuine desire continue help seek solution. But believe we shld avoid entanglement in elaborate scheme of dubious outcome as price of deterring GOB from appeal to UN.

Day

1. Repeated to Taipei and Bangkok.
2. Telegram 729 reported that Lt. Gen. Ne Win, Supreme Commander, Burma Armed Forces, had made informal proposals to the U.S. Military Attaché in Rangoon for U.S. cooperation in arranging the evacuation of the Chinese Nationalist troops, with their arms and ammunition, from Burma through Thailand. (793.00/12552)
3. Circular telegram 647 stated that the U.S. Delegation at the U.N. General Assembly would respond to charges made on Jan. 3 by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Y. Vyshinsky, before the First Committee of the General Assembly, that the United States had been transporting Chinese Nationalist troops from Taiwan to Thailand and Burma in preparation for aggression against the People’s Republic of China. The telegram suggested that other interested governments might wish to consider addressing themselves to this subject. (320/1–2252) For the official summary of Vyshinsky’s remarks, see U.N. document A/C.1/SR.477. For Cooper’s statement and the attendant discussion in the General Assembly, see U.N. documents A/PV.368 and 369.
4. The text of the proposed U.S. statement was sent to Paris in Gadel 796, Jan. 22, and to Rangoon and other posts as circular telegram 649, Jan. 22. (320/1–2252)
5. The text of the aide-mémoire was enclosed with despatch 651 from Rangoon, Jan. 30. (790B.00/1–3052)