Office of the Historian

232. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Pakistan1

Washington, April 30, 1955—3:51 p.m.

1811. Regarding Djakarta’s 2044 repeated Karachi 1771,2 following is for your guidance in event Mohammad Ali requests your views.

We should not encourage Ali accept Chou’s invitation or seek definitely to dissuade him since either course might be misunderstood and possibly misused by him. Decision must essentially be his own, after consideration all factors. We are concerned implications visit by Ali at this time since it would be first visit Peiping by Asian leader whose government clearly aligned with anti-Communist camp and party to Manila Pact. As such would be feather in Chou’s hat since important objective his performance Bandung was to elicit public evidence Peiping’s acceptance in community of nations. We assume Ali aware these factors and will give them consideration.

With regard Prime Minister’s offer mediate he may be informed we have given most careful consideration to his offer and deeply appreciate his willingness be of assistance. While we do not believe necessary utilize at this time, we will keep in mind his desire to be of assistance. You are also authorized inform Prime Minister United States is not utilizing services any intermediary at present and specifically [Page 535] Krishna Menon’s prospective trip Peiping3 not undertaken at our request or with our knowledge.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/4–2655. Secret. Repeated for information to Jakarta, New Delhi, and Taipei. Drafted in CA, cleared with the addition of the last sentence in NEA, and approved in FE.↩
  2. Telegram 2044 from Jakarta, April 26, reported a conversation the previous day in Bandung between Cumming and Mohammad Ali, who had seen Chou En-lai that day. Ali told Cumming that the whole tenor of Chou’s conversation was “that he had made a gesture and US had not responded.” Chou invited Ali to visit Peking, and Ali expressed interest in receiving U.S. views on the advisability of his accepting the invitation and “pursuing further his conversations with Chou on subject Taiwan.” (Ibid.)↩
  3. Prime Minister Nehru announced on April 30 that Menon would visit Peking within 10 days to continue his talks with Premier Chou, begun at Bandung, concerning the Taiwan situation. (New York Times, May 1, 1955)↩