389. Telegram From the Delegation to the U.N. General Assembly to the Department of State0
Delga 21. Reference: Tibet. Secretary met with Lloyd and Couve on Tibet this morning. Secretary said he would like very much to see Tibet item inscribed and hoped that Asians would take lead, but this has not eventuated thus far. He informed Lloyd and Couve of his intention to talk to Aiken1 with a view to getting him to move forward on inscription of an item along with Malayans and Philippines. He explained our view that case in UN should be based on human rights and not independence. He also informed Lloyd and Couve that Irish would prefer not to have us [Page 786] co-inscribe with them. Secretary also mentioned that contiguous Asian states are reluctant and appear to fear retribution from Chinese Communists.
Lloyd stressed acute difficulty and embarrassment which would be caused for UK if Tibetan item were inscribed. He feared that if Tibetan matter inscribed this year, this would have unfortunate precedent re Oman case. He described Nehru as depressed and wishing to avoid futile UN action. When Secretary stressed that this matter like Hungarian situation, Lloyd maintained it was different in that Hungary was independent and Tibet is not. He feared that bringing the matter to UN would divide Commonwealth. Lloyd felt Indians probably would have to vote against inscription, that Nepal would definitely vote against, and probably Burma, Ceylon, and South Africa as well. He stressed that it would look bad if some of principal neighbors of Tibet were either against inscription of item or were lukewarm. The Secretary agreed that this would be a victory for Communist China if that happened. Lloyd maintained that these negative reactions provided basis for relieving US of any commitments it might have with Dalai Lama. Lloyd stressed that way to help Tibetans is for its neighbors to do as much as they can and that in his judgment a Western initiative would not be helpful in circumstances. He believed that Dalai Lama ought to be told this. In addition, Western initiative, in Lloyd’s judgment, would isolate Tibet and Dalai Lama from neighboring countries. Lloyd also mentioned that recent Soviet statement of neutrality between India and Chinese Communists was also an important factor in this situation. Dixon maintained that inscription Tibetan item would further enrage Chinese Communists against Tibetans and split Asians as well.
Couve agreed with Lloyd. He said it was strange that an Irish Catholic would be taking lead on this matter rather than neighboring Buddhist countries. He pointed out that neither Malaya nor Philippines fell in this category. Couve stressed that inscription of Tibet would give French great difficulty with respect to Algeria since question of human rights could be raised in either instance. Couve added that in his judgment Tibetan item would also split Western European countries, and that even close friends such as Belgium and the Netherlands would find themselves in embarrassing position because of their overseas protectorates. Couve also said that generally speaking he believes it is desirable not to interfere with Indian relationships with China. In his judgment “if the white people interfere, it will only result in bringing China and India together.” Couve maintained that in view of negative and lukewarm responses we could not get a two-thirds majority on a resolution.
Both Couve and Lloyd placed great stress on strong statements by various speakers in the general debate and during plenary discussion of [Page 787] Chinese representation issue, but without inscription of a separate Tibetan item.
Secretary countered that Hungarian and Tibetan matters essentially same sort of situation in that fundamental human rights had been denied. Moreover we have gone a long way in indicating to Dalai Lama that we would assist him in trying to have Tibetan case heard by General Assembly. Fact was that Dalai Lama had appealed and he had sought assistance of the UN. This appeal had largely gone unheeded. As to hostility of ChiComs they were as hostile as could be at moment and that inscription of Tibetan matter could hardly add to that. As to a two-thirds majority, that would depend upon kind or proposal that was presented. If we could get over hurdle of inscribing item, then number of Asians might be embarrassed if they did not come along and support a reasonable proposal based on human rights and genocide.
Conversation on this matter concluded with Secretary saying that we would look into this matter further, first step being to talk with Aiken.