Office of the Historian

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

Bangkok, September 6, 1957—5 p.m.

Secun 4. Many thanks your Unsec 9.2 Dick3 and I and whole party in good shape and absorbing many impressions. Will send you reports from each country on departure.

In Rangoon we called on three Deputy Prime Ministers, the Prime Minister and the President. Courtesy required eating practically [Page 117] complete meals each call but except for slight lethargy no ill effects.

Until last night felt that visit from official point of view had been completely unproductive since not one word of substantive nature discussed with any official. At American Ambassador’s dinner last night, however, situation very different. As Ambassador has reported in full4 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Foreign Affairs5 requested opportunity speak to me privately. … No specific mention made of American aid but clear indication top priority placed on assistance equipment internal security police.

At end of dinner political adviser to Prime Minister6 spoke to me privately asking if message from Minister Foreign Affairs had been clearly conveyed and reemphasized that this message represented personal views Prime Minister and government.

During dinner Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs7 took very similar position and spoke very freely.

Ambassador and staff feel these conversations extremely important since they are the first direct and emphatic statement of policy coming from government even though request made that they be held in confidence.

Burma has not yet returned to economic status pre-Japanese invasion but in rice production and teak production has almost caught up with pre-war figures. I am hopeful that as soon as loan agreement ratified by present session Burmese Parliament there can be minimum time lag in implementing projects contemplated because believe soonest we can show impact progress on these projects the better will be effect in firming presently expressed friendly policy of government.

President particularly requested that his warm regards be conveyed to President Eisenhower.

Minister Faure of French Foreign Office stopped briefly in Rangoon hoping to enlist Burmese sympathy for French Algerian policies. I am told little progress was made.

Sorry to hear about Dillon8 and realize fully how heavy a load you must be carrying. Both of us send warmest regards.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.12–HE/9–657.↩
  2. Unsec 9 to Rangoon, September 3, was an informal message from Dulles to Herter. (Ibid., 110.12–HE/9–357)↩
  3. James P. Richards.↩
  4. In telegram 283 from Rangoon, September 6. (Department of State, Central Files, 110.12–HE/9–657)↩
  5. Sao Khun Khio.↩
  6. U Ohn.↩
  7. U Kyaw Nyein.↩
  8. Unsec 9 (see footnote 1 above), reported that Dillon was recuperating from a mild attack of Asiatic flu.↩