110.11 DU/5–1954: Telegram

The United States Delegation to the Department of State

secret

Dulte 85. Re Dulte 83.1 Following is summary of some recent British messages from capitals Colombo powers which Eden has made available to me and which he is also sending to Makins.

Begin verbatim text:

1.
Ceylon: Ceylon Government are prepared to consider associating themselves with support for an Indochina settlement reached by all [Page 853] parties concerned in the dispute, subject to scrutiny of terms of the settlement.
2.
Pakistan: Pakistan Government are also ready to examine possibility of Pakistan’s helping to guarantee any settlement of Indochina problem reached at Geneva, and supported by all powers participating in Geneva conference.
3.
India:
(a)
Responsible Indian officials have informally indicated that India might not only participate in a neutral supervisory commission in Indochina, but also send troops to help implement an agreed settlement.
(b)
Indians are paying considerable attention to Burmese attitude towards Indochina problem and, primarily for this reason, are beginning to worry about dangers of Communist control in Indochina. Responsible Indian officials favor retention of French Forces in Indochina until local troops can be trained to take their place.
(c)
A leading article in Hindustan Times welcomed Mr. Eden’s five questions on Indochina at Geneva and declared that Colombo countries would do their utmost to see that this initiative succeeded.
4.
Burma:
(a)
Burmese attitude towards Indochina and general menace of international communism is rapidly becoming realistic, but Her Majesty’s Ambassador considers any overemphasis on collective security for Southeast Asia as a purely military or strategic plan will tend to scare Burmese and hinder this desirable development.
(b)
Acting Foreign Minister has informed us that Burmese Government will participate in a neutral supervisory commission in Indochina if invited, though Burma could not provide more than token forces.

End verbatim text.

Smith
  1. Telegram Dulte 83, May 18, not printed, reported that Eden had received authorization from London to go ahead with the five-power military talks. (Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 245)