383. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Parsons) and the Acting Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs (Walmsley) to Secretary of State Herter0
SUBJECT
- Developments with Respect to United Nations Action on Tibetan Issue
1. Communications with the Dalai Lama
At a meeting in Mr. Murphy’s office on July 28 attended by representatives of FE, NEA and IO it was decided that the Dalai Lama should be informed of our intention to do whatever we can to assist the Dalai Lama in connection with submitting Tibet’s case to the General Assembly if, as we understand is the case, he intends to make a public appeal for United Nations action. There is attached (Tab A)1 a message transmitted through other channels instructing that the Dalai Lama be informed that we would so assist him; that his initial public statement of appeal for United Nations action should be made in the relatively near future; that this appeal should be phrased in terms of the suffering and denial of human rights endured by the Tibetan people and avoid charges of aggression; and that following issuance of his statement we would consult with governments of friendly countries in his behalf. The Dalai Lama is being informed [Page 775] in another message that if he takes the initiative in pushing for submission of Tibet’s case to the General Assembly, the Department will approach suitable Asian governments in an effort to arrange invitations for the Dalai Lama to visit their countries, with a view to enabling him to publicize his case prior to discussion in the United Nations.
The Dalai Lama has also indicated his desire to establish a formal connection with our Ambassador in New Delhi to facilitate consultation on matters of joint concern, and has also asked whether the United States Government would be willing to propose to some other government, preferably in Asia, that it extend recognition to his government-in-exile. We are informing the Dalai Lama that once he issues his appeal for United Nations action it would then be appropriate for him to have direct contact with American officials, and that if he should invite the American Ambassador or the Chargé d’Affaires to visit him they would be pleased to do so. With regard to the second point, the Dalai Lama has been informed that in our view consideration of obtaining recognition for a Tibetan government-in-exile should be deferred for the time being, but that the matter might usefully be reexamined following the contemplated United Nations action.
2. Consultation with Other Governments
It was decided at the July 28 meeting that as soon as the Dalai Lama made his initial public statement appealing for United Nations action we should approach the British, informing them of our intention to do whatever we appropriately can to support the Tibetan case and seeking their advice and support with respect to arranging the most effective form of resolution and sponsorship. We plan to request the British specifically to join with us in seeking to induce Japan to take the lead in sponsoring a resolution on Tibet’s behalf.
3. Indian Government Attitude
Embassy New Delhi has reported (Tab B)2 that while the GOI would consider that raising the Tibetan issue in the United Nations would serve no useful purpose, it would concede that the Dalai Lama has the right to appeal and to be heard if the United Nations wishes. The Embassy’s assessment is that an appeal by the Dalai Lama and his appearance at the United Nations would probably not jeopardize his return to India so long as he avoided insisting on the concept of Tibetan independence. The Embassy recommends that before encouraging other countries to support an appeal by the Dalai Lama for United Nations action we should approach Nehru and inform him of our intentions. It was the sense of the [Page 776] July 28 meeting that Nehru should be so informed. We believe that this should be done immediately after we have initiated consultation with the British and obtained their reaction to our plans.
We believe that, both from the point of view of influencing future developments in Tibet and with respect to the morale of the Tibetan refugees in India, it is desirable that the Dalai Lama be able to remain in and return to India. We have emphasized this point in our recent messages to the Dalai Lama, pointing out the importance we attach to his avoiding a break with the Indian government to the extent that this can be avoided without prejudicing his basic principles and negotiating position.
4. GRC Attitude Toward United Nations Action
Ambassador Drumright reported on August 3 (Tab C)3 that in a discussion of the Tibetan issue the Chinese Foreign Minister told him the GRC would not itself raise the Tibetan issue at the General Assembly but would strongly support any other country which might bring up the problem. He further stated that the GRC delegation would participate in any debate that might occur, castigating Chinese Communist actions in Tibet and reiterating President Chiang’s statement of March 26 promising the Tibetan people the right of self-determination following the overthrow of the Peiping regime.
5. Consultation with Ambassador Lodge
FE and IO are advising Ambassador Lodge of the foregoing.
6. International Commission of Jurists’ Report
On July 25 the International Commission of Jurists released a preliminary report4 concluding that the Chinese Communists have by acts of genocide attempted to destroy the Tibetan nation and the Buddhist religion in Tibet. The Commission is a non-governmental and non-political organization supported by some 30,000 judges, practicing lawyers, and law professors from over fifty countries. The report, which is based on documents and findings presented by a senior advocate of the Indian Supreme Court, is reportedly being circulated to United Nations delegations.
7. Report of Philippine Intention to Bring Tibetan Problem Before United Nations
An Associated Press item of July 29 reported Philippine Ambassador Delgado as having stated that the Philippine mission to the United [Page 777] Nations considered the Tibetan problem worthy of consideration by the General Assembly and that it was consulting with other delegations on how to accomplish this. Subsequent inquiries by USUN indicated that this report was erroneous. We were informed that Ambassador Delgado had merely mentioned Tibet in a staff meeting as a subject likely to arise at the 14th General Assembly and had asked his staff to study the legal and political problems involved.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/8–559. Secret. Drafted by Lutkins and Sisco and cleared with NEA and the Office of the Under Secretary.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Telegram 161 from New Delhi, July 20; not attached to the source text. (Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/7–1659)↩
- Telegram 100 from Taipei, August 3; not attached to the source text. (Ibid., 793B.00/8–359)↩
- The Question of Tibet and the Rule of Law (Geneva: International Commission of Jurists, 1959).↩