Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, South and Southeast Asia, Volume XV

288. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President¹

Washington, October 13, 1960.

SUBJECT

• Successful Completion of the Special Political Mission to Nepal

At the beginning of the call which King Mahendra of Nepal made on you on April 28,² during the course of his State Visit, he asked that you dispatch a special political mission to Nepal. He stated that the purpose of such a mission would be to study the functioning of democratic processes and institutions in Nepal and to make recommendations to the King for their improvement.

After careful consideration, Mr. Don K. Price, Jr., Dean of the Graduate School of Public Administration, Harvard University, was selected by the Department to undertake this mission. Mr. Price visited Nepal from August 28 to September 16. He was received as a guest of the King and was lodged in the Royal Guest House. After a close examination of the political situation, including many conversations with Nepalese officials and political leaders, he submitted certain recommendations to the King for administrative reform and improvements in the functioning of the Judiciary and certain quasi-independent executive offices. He also made recommendations designed to improve the relationship between the monarchy and the elected government.

King Mahendra expressed great pleasure at Dean Price’s visit and thanked him for his recommendations. Ambassador Stebbins believes that the King is genuinely grateful for our assistance in this matter. I believe that your agreement to the King’s request and the prompt dispatch of Dean Price to Nepal has strengthened the King’s confidence in us, and consequently, may make him more receptive to our views in the future. I believe, therefore, that the mission was entirely successful.

King Mahendra asked Dean Price to convey to you his best personal regards.³

Christian A. Herter⁴

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790C.02A/10–1360. Secret. Drafted by Jelley on October 6. In a memorandum of October 10 to Secretary Herter, Assistant Secretary Jones explained the background of Don K. Price’s visit to Nepal and recommended that the Secretary approve a memorandum for the President, informing him of the successful completion of Price’s special political mission to Nepal. (Ibid., 790C.02A/10–1060)
2. See Document 284.
3. On September 21, Price met with Jones and Hart and reported on his visit to Nepal; a memorandum of that conversation, drafted by Fleck, is in Department of State, Central Files, 790C.02A/9–2160.
4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.