133. Memorandum from Dulles to Phleger1
I have looked at Johnson’s 607 of August 24. I do not like the idea of making our authorization of the Government of India dependent upon an agreement of the PRC as to American civilians.
It seems to me that the right position for us to take and the most effective position from the standpoint of world opinion is that having learned that there exists question in some minds as to the practical ability of Chinese in this country to return to the China Mainland if they so desire, the United States voluntarily asks the Government of India to serve to assist them and to transmit funds to them to finance the expenses of their return.
If this is the right thing to do, then I think we should do it. If it is not the right thing to do, then I do not think we should do it merely because the Chinese Communists want us to. I think we should keep whatever we do on a purely unilateral basis of ourselves doing the right thing even though we are willing to make a joint announcement.
Therefore, if we are to break or have a recess, I would like to see us announce unconditionally that we intend to invite the Government of [Typeset Page 167] India to serve, and that we should not make it contingent as suggested in Johnson’s 607.
I realize that we may thus be giving up a certain bargaining position, but I believe that disadvantage is more than offset by avoiding the appearance of agreeing with the Chicoms to do something which we would not otherwise do. Also, the impact on world opinion will be very much stronger.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/8–2555. Confidential. A copy was sent to Sebald. Dulles initialed “JFD” above his typed signature.↩