Office of the Historian

284. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, April 28, 19601

Washington, April 28, 1960

SUBJECT

  • Call on the President by the King of Nepal

PARTICIPANTS

  • United States
    • The President
  • Nepal
    • His Majesty Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah
    • Acting Secy of State Loy W. Henderson
    • Amb. H.E. Stebbins
    • Acting Asst. Secy, NEA Parker T. Hart Deva, King of Nepal
    • His Excellency Subarana S.J.B. Rana, Dep. Prime Minister of Nepal
    • His Excellency Rishikesh Shaha Ambassador of Nepal

His Majesty requested and had a private meeting with the President lasting about 20 minutes, following which the remainder of the visiting group was admitted. The President indicated to His Majesty his desire to learn of any problems which the Kingdom of Nepal might have in which the United States could possibly be helpful, or any problems which the two countries might share in common. His Majesty requested the Deputy Prime Minister to reply.

Rana emphasized that the great problem of Nepal today was its very low standard of living and the need to utilize its manpower and resources far more effectively than at present. Ninety-five per cent of its 9 million people were engaged in agriculture, almost all of them along traditional lines. Improvements in agriculture were a great necessity and the Kingdom was very grateful for American technical assistance already received in this regard. The President expressed great interest in this point and queried Rana at length with respect to the agricultural picture in Nepal. It was made clear that while in the Terai a few tractors were in use as well as bullocks for plowing, in the hills and mountains, hand labor was the universal rule. Rana indicated that the irrigation was important in certain areas where the monsoon rains were uncertain, in order to obtain the desired two crops per year. In valleys monsoons permitted rice to be grown by terrace farming— all hand work. In this connection, the President recalled his experience in the Philippines where he observed remarkable terrace farming on mountain sides high up river valleys where the deflection of water was accomplished with incredible skill. Secretary Henderson indicated that he believed that the Nepalese technique in terracing was equal to the best in the Philippines.

The President observed that there was in the United Nations an institution called the Special Fund headed by Mr. Hoffman2 which undertook upon request to make full surveys of a nation’s needs. Should it be desired, the President was prepared to write a letter to Mr. Hoffman asking that this Special Fund undertake a full survey of the needs of Nepal. The President remarked parenthetically that he was much impressed with what he had heard from His Majesty regarding the struggle which had taken place to establish a democratic government in Nepal and he wished to do everything he could to assist the Kingdom in preserving and further developing its democratic institutions. [Page 601] While Rana indicated that some requests had already been made to the Special Fund, he replied that he would, indeed, appreciate the President’s carrying out his offer to address a letter in this sense to Mr. Hoffman.

The importance of industrialization was emphasized by Rana who referred to Nepal’s possibility of producing cheap hydro-electric energy through utilization of some of the many waterfalls of the country.

Following the admission of photographers the President pointed out and gave the background of certain paintings which he had received as gifts and which decorate his office.

Comment: Subsequently Ambassador Shaha expressed to Secretary Henderson the great pleasure His Majesty experienced from this interview with the President.

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Official Use Only; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Parker T. Hart. Herter briefed the President for his meeting with King Mahendra in a memorandum of April 20. (Ibid., Central Files, 790C.11/4–2060) The King was in Washington for a 4-day official visit, April 27–30. He remained in the United States for a brief tour of the country until May 13. For text of the joint communiqué issued after the King’s talk with President Eisenhower and the text of the King’s address before Congress on April 28, see Department of State Bulletin, May 23, 1960, pp. 827–831.↩
  2. Paul G. Hoffman, Director, U.N. Special Fund.↩