Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, China, Volume XIX

395. Telegram From the Delegation to the U.N. General Assembly to the Department of State ⁰

New York, October 23, 1959, 8 p.m.

Delga 251. For Secretary and Wilcox from Lodge. Re: Tibet.

I believe we obtained maximum results in UN on Tibetan item.¹ This confirms wisdom of strategy we adopted of permitting Irish and Malayans to take lead. In this way we also were able deny USSR handle it was always seeking in order to tag US with responsibility of reviving cold war and to convince others US not truly interested in peace.

I believe it would be desirable and worthwhile for Secretary to send personal letters of appreciation to Irish and Malayan Foreign Ministers commending them for their joint initiative in behalf of Tibet and for effective way in which they handled themselves in difficult tactical situation in GA.

It is regrettable in one way that our closest Allies, UK and France, abstained on what was extremely moderate resolution. But being separated from colonial powers on issue of this sort also has compensations.

Contrary to Embassy’s report from London,² Dixon made unhelpful speech which by its suggestion no resolution was necessary, tended to encourage advocates of adjourning debate on Tibetan item without any action. We managed to block any such maneuver by immediately making known (in private) our intention to oppose adjournment in strongest possible way. We appeared clearly as a non-colonial power, which is always an attractive way to appear in the GA and which we all too often are unable to do.

I think you should also know that there was widespread distaste for the whole operation.

Lodge

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/10–2359. Secret.
1. Resolution 1353 (XIV), adopted by the General Assembly on October 21 by a vote of 45 to 9, with 26 abstentions, expressed concern at reports to the effect that “the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the people of Tibet have been forcibly denied them” and called for “respect for the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people and for their distinctive cultural and religious life.” For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, p. 1187.
2. Telegram 2138 from London, October 21, reported that the British decision to abstain was firm but that Dixon had been instructed to make a strong speech near the end of the debate making clear British abhorrence of the Tibetan situation. (Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/10–2159)