Office of the Historian

32. Telegram From the Embassy in Burma to the Department of State1

Rangoon, April 2, 1956—6 p.m.

1141. For Robertson. Deptel 9892 was most timely as I saw U Kyaw Nyein with Braddock and Usher3 one hour after receiving it [Page 51] this morning4 and presented proposal with great clarity. Substance conversation will be reported separately.5

U Kyaw Nyein was very pleased with our proposal and seemed think that necessary assurances under Battle Act could be given although it may take some time to bring Prime Minister around. Important fact however is that he had had signing of agreement6 with Mikoyan postponed until tomorrow evening (Mikoyan leaves early Monday morning) and believes that with our offer in hand he will be able either modify or eliminate altogether proposals for loan agreement (our first knowledge that such agreement was being proposed).

Re detailed negotiations required in carrying out our proposal he said these could be carried on between his assistants and Braddock and Usher. He asked however, if it would not be desirable finalize negotiations in Washington. I said it might well be so. He intimated he would like to visit Washington and our proposal may now make this possible under favorable circumstances.

I asked him specifically whether he thought it would facilitate negotiations if I should postpone my departure and he replied he thought this unnecessary. I shall accordingly leave this evening as scheduled but will be ready return at any moment should you think it necessary or desirable.

Satterthwaite
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.90B41/4–256. Secret.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Richard E. Usher, First Secretary of Embassy.↩
  4. The conversation took place on March 31; the telegram was evidently prepared prior to Satterthwaite’s departure for the United States that evening.↩
  5. Telegram 1144 from Rangoon, April 3, reported that the Ambassador had presented the substance of telegram 989, except that he had not mentioned the U.S. preferences as to projects and the indefinite postponement of U.S. consideration of further assistance for the medical center. (Department of State, Central Files, 411.90B41/4– 356)↩
  6. Described in telegram 1138, Infra.↩