388. Editorial Note
At the 418th meeting of the National Security Council on September 10, 1959, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles discussed the Sino-Indian border dispute and developments in Tibet during his briefing on significant world developments, and a brief discussion followed. The relevant portion of the memorandum of discussion of that date by Marion W. Boggs reads as follows:
“Turning to the Sino-Indian border situation, Mr. Dulles expressed the view that the increased assertiveness of Communist China was an outgrowth of developments in Tibet. The Chinese Communists appear anxious to take over the area north of Assam, which is the route for escape from Tibet and for help from India to Tibet. The Chinese had made a number of incursions into this area in the last several years; they had even built a road in Ladakh in 1957 without India’s knowledge. The Chinese attack on the Longju outpost on August 26 resulted in a penetration 3 miles beyond the McMahon line. Although India is committed to the McMahon line, China does not recognize it, claiming it is a remnant of imperialism. [2-1/2 lines of source text not declassified] Mr. Dulles believed Nehru would strive for a settlement of this dispute while at the same time defending the border. [2-2/2 lines of source text not declassified] Mr. Dulles believed the USSR would be anxious to see the dispute settled.
Bhutan, Sikkhim and Nepal are disturbed over possible Chinese Communist incursions. “Mr. Dulles then took up Tibet. He said the Dalai Lama was talking to a great many diplomats while preparing his case for the U.N. Many powers are sympathetic to his appeal, but he has yet to find an active sponsor. The U.S. has felt that he should not, in his presentation to the U.N., emphasize aggression, since Tibet was for many years a part of China. In our view, his case is stronger on a human rights basis. India has been lukewarm toward the Dalai Lama, but has recently displayed a somewhat friendlier attitude toward him as a result of Indian public opinion (which is sympathetic to him) and the Sino-Indian border incidents.
[Page 785]“Mr. Dillon said that the appeal of the Dalai Lama to the U.N. involved a difficult legal question: was Tibet an independent nation or not? He believed human rights was the best basis for the Tibetan appeal.
“The President asked where the natural geographic boundary was in this area. Mr. Dulles said the lack of a natural boundary was one of the difficulties. A series of high mountain crests obscure the natural boundary. If the Chinese Communists took over the area now in dispute, they would be over the high mountain ranges and just above the Assam plain.
“Mr. Dulles said the Chinese Communist leaders were in an ugly mood because of their lessened prestige due to the failure of their economic program to meet expectations. However, they refuse to admit failure; they maintain the leap forward’ program is still in force and blame shortcomings on drought. The image of Mao as the all-wise father has been somewhat impaired, but the leaders are still firmly in the saddle. The Chinese are showing exasperation at Soviet criticism of their economic program. In their present mood, the Chinese leaders are not disposed to retreat from any international positions they have taken, despite possible pressure on them from the USSR to ‘tidy up’ the Tibetan and Indian border situations.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)