Office of the Historian

259. Letter From the Indian Ambassador (Mehta) to President Eisenhower1

Washington, May 27, 1955.

My Dear Mr. President: I have the honour to convey the following message from my Prime Minister:

Begins. Dear Mr. President: I have received from Krishna Menon, on his return today from Peking his report on his talks with Prime Minister Chou En-lai and others. His visit to Peking was in response to an invitation from the Chinese Prime Minister and he went there on our behalf.

2.
While we were not speaking on behalf of any country or Government, we have at the same time felt that we have contacts with and the friendship of the main parties concerned, namely United States and China, and some knowledge of their respective positions. This as well as recent developments in respect of this problem on both sides also encouraged the belief that ways of fruitful negotiations could be found.
3.
The decision of the United States Government to remove restrictions on some 58 Chinese students now in the United States, of which Krishna Menon was informed after his talks with Secretary of State Dulles in March last2 and the impressions that he formed then which he reported to me, also encouraged the belief that progress towards peaceful approach and solutions should be attempted.
4.
The recent talks in Peking have led me to the belief that steps both to reduce tension and to pave the way for negotiation can be established and the desire to bring about this exists.
5.
Progress was made in regard to the main issues integral to the solution of the problem, namely: [Page 575]
(a)
Reduction of tensions and definite step towards this end.
(b)
Finding of a basis for negotiation acceptable to both sides.
(c)
Progressive steps and procedures for bringing about negotiations.
6.
If after discussion the progress made in this direction appears acceptable to the United States, then advance towards solutions will become possible.
7.
The Chinese Government have decided to release four of the United States airmen of the Fischer group “as a first step” and as a contribution to easing tension.3 Announcement of this will be made on the evening of the 30th May. Until then this decision is secret and this communication to you is made on that basis. This decision with regard to the four airmen paves the way for the further and final solution of this issue and the return of the United States Nationals including the airmen, in a reasonably short period, therefore, appears possible, given goodwill.
8.
Progress has been made in regard to the abstention from use of force pending negotiations and while negotiations continue. This is a distinct gain.
9.
The talks have been private and it is the understanding that this character should be maintained. It is my hope that by informal and private talks between you Mr. President and your Secretary of State, we may be able to communicate more fully and to pursue to useful purpose on a friendly basis the progress made in Peking. I hope therefore, subject to your approval, it will be possible without delay to engage in informal conversations in Washington. I express the hope that as a result of further endeavours in this way progress towards a peaceful settlement will be made.

Mr. President, I assure you of my best wishes and high regard. Jawaharlal Nehru. Ends.

With my high regard and esteem,

Yours sincerely,

G.L. Mehta
  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International Series. Top Secret; Most Immediate. Received in the Department of State on May 27 and forwarded to the President with a covering memorandum of that date from Hoover. A copy is also in Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/5–2755.↩
  2. See footnote 4, Document 234.↩
  3. Reference is to the four airmen, including Captain Harold E. Fischer, USAF, for whom no sentences had been announced.↩