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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, South and Southeast Asia, Volume XV
  4. Document 112

112. Memorandum of a Conversation, July 6, 19581

July 6, 1958

SUBJECT

  • Anti-Americanism in Asia

PARTICIPANTS

  • Prime Minister Daud of Afghanistan
  • Afghan Ambassador Maiwandwal
  • SOA—Armin H. Meyer

During one of our conversations aboard the plane carrying him on tour of the United States, Daud was asked to reflect on the question as to why the United States is so much on the defensive in Asia and [Page 236] elsewhere despite the fact that American policies are so well intentioned and the only American motivation is the maintenance of the freedom and independence of free countries everywhere.

Several days later Daud replied, suggesting the following as his reasons why the United States is criticized and under attack at so many places:

1.
The United States Government has too frequently identified nationalism in Asia as Communism. Asians, he said, have had long and bitter colonial experiences. They are sensitive about their newly won independence. They become bitter when Americans attribute their yearning and aspirations to Communist motivation.
2.
The United States is too frequently associated with the colonialism of European powers. He cited Algeria as an example.
3.
United States supported collective security pacts have produced unfortunate consequences in Asia. Initially, these pacts resulted in two categories of friends for the United States and frictions inevitably developed. Subsequently, non-pact countries against their deep desires were forced to build up their military establishments at the expense of economic development.
4.
There is too much red tape connected with American assistance programs. By contrast the Soviets require practically no time-comsuming and frustrating bureaucratic paper work, organization and implementation.
5.
The United States too often is associated in the minds of Asians with unpopular regimes. It would behoove the United States to recognize Nasser and other Afro-Asian leaders as representatives of Asian feelings rather than automatic enemies of the United States.

In response, I tried to better Daud’s understanding of the American positions on all five of the above, in accordance with our official attitudes toward these subjects. On Item No. 4, I frankly stated that our system was at a distinct disadvantage as over against a totalitarian one although some improvement is constantly being sought to reduce the red tape in American assistance programs.

  1. Source: Department of State, SOA Files: Lot 62 D 43, Afghanistan 1958. Confidential. Drafted by Meyer.↩