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

396. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, October 29, 1959.

SUBJECT

• Tibet

PARTICIPANTS

• Mr. Murphy—Under Secretary for Political Affairs
• Mr. Gyalo Thondup, Personal Representative of the Dalai Lama
• Mr. Scott—M
• Mr. Martin, Director, CA

Mr. Gyalo Thondup, the Personal Representative of the Dalai Lama, and “Foreign Minister” of the Dalai Lama’s Government, called at his request on Under Secretary Murphy this afternoon. Upon being introduced to Mr. Murphy, Mr. Thondup made the traditional presentation of a Tibetan silk scarf to the Under Secretary. Mr. Thondup said that he had come on behalf of his brother, the Dalai Lama, who wished to convey to President Eisenhower and Secretary Herter the deep gratitude of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people for the sympathy and help which the American Government and people have rendered to them. He also thanked Mr. Murphy for the assistance of the U.S. in connection with the recent United Nations deliberations on the Tibetan item.

Mr. Thondup then said he would like to make the following points with regard to the Tibetan situation:

1. It was the hope of the Dalai Lama that the U.S. Government would continue to help the people of Tibet in their struggle for independence. The Tibetans were now facing great difficulties but they intended to continue their struggle for freedom and they looked to the U.S. for support. The Dalai Lama would like very much to have advice and guidance as to what he should do to keep the Tibetan cause alive and before the conscience of the world.

2. The Dalai Lama was grateful for the assistance from U.S. sources for the Tibetan refugees who had fled after the uprising in March. He hoped that some of the refugees might go to the U.S. and other countries for training and education. He hoped for U.S. assistance in this respect.

3. Due to the attitude of the Government of India, at present it was not feasible for the Dalai Lama to set up a government in exile. However, he hoped that the attitude of the Indian Government might change in time, and that it would be possible eventually to establish such a government. The Dalai Lama hoped that the U.S. Government would use its influence with the Indian Government and other governments to encourage the recognition of a Tibetan Government in exile.

4. The Tibetans needed financial and arms assistance from the U.S. in order to continue their resistance within Tibet against Chinese Communist oppression.

Mr. Murphy said that he was extremely happy to have this opportunity to meet with Mr. Thondup. He wanted to assure him of the personal sympathy of President Eisenhower, as well as that of the American people, for the situation of the Tibetans. The President and Secretary Herter would be most interested to hear of the message which Mr. Thondup had brought from his brother, the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Murphy indicated that great importance is attached to keeping the Tibetan situation before world public opinion. He suggested that the Dalai Lama might consider making some trips to the capitals of other countries, especially neighboring Asian countries. This would be a good means of educating people about the Tibetan problem. Mr. Thondup agreed. He said that the Dalai Lama had thought about traveling but that it was not easy to make appropriate arrangements. However, he felt that some invitations from Buddhist groups in other countries might be accepted by the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Murphy asked how Mr. Thondup felt about the recent UN deliberations on the Tibetan item. Mr. Thondup expressed general satisfaction with the outcome of the United Nations deliberations and again voiced his thanks for U.S. support. He indicated that the Tibetans would have liked to have received more support in the U.N. for independence, which was their principal goal. However, they felt that a good start had been made by the UN consideration of the human rights aspects of their case. He hoped that the UN could eventually do something more. Mr. Thondup expressed satisfaction with the services which had been rendered to the Tibetan delegation by their lawyer, Mr. Ernest Gross.

Mr. Murphy asked Mr. Thondup about the relations of the Tibetans with the Indian Government. Mr. Thondup indicated that the Indian Government was in a difficult position. It considered that Tibet was part of China. Referring to the recent border incidents between Communist China and India, Mr. Thondup expressed the fear that the Indian Government might be willing to make some deal with Peiping regarding Tibet in return for assurances as to its own territory.

Mr. Murphy told Mr. Thondup that the U.S. had traditionally stood for self-determination of peoples. We believed this principle should apply also to the Tibetans. Mr. Thondup expressed appreciation for this stand.

In reply to a question from Mr. Murphy as to the actual state of government in Tibet at present, Mr. Thondup said that it was a Chinese Communist military government with the participation of a few pro-Communist Tibetans. The Panchen Lama was now acting Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Autonomous Region of Tibet.

When asked how large the population of Tibet was, Mr. Thondup replied that he did not know the exact population but that according to his government’s estimate there were 6,000,000 Tibetans. This included those who were living outside of Tibet proper. Mr. Thondup made it clear that the Tibetans were entirely separate from the Chinese in language and culture. The present Chinese military government, however, was doing its best to suppress the Tibetan way of life. Although he did not know the exact number of Chinese Communist troops in Tibet, he estimated that there were about 300,000 Chinese Communists “in uniform”. In answer to another question, Mr. Thondup said that the Buddhists of Tibet were entirely on the side of the resistance against the Communists. [2 paragraph (5-1/2 lines of source text) not declassified] Mr. Murphy asked what Mr. Thondup had in mind when he expressed the hope that the UN might do something further. Mr. Thondup felt that it might play some role in mediation between Tibet and Communist China. Mr. Thondup indicated that he had taken this matter up with the Secretary General during a recent call in company with Mr. Gross. Mr. Murphy asked whether Mr. Thondup had received any indication from the Secretary General that he might look into conciliation possibilities during his prospective trip to Southeast Asia in connection with the Laos question. Mr. Thondup replied that the Secretary General had advised that for the time being the best thing the Tibetans could do was to educate the world as to the Tibetan problem.

Mr. Thondup recalled that in his letter to President Eisenhower,¹ the Dalai Lama had expressed the hope that before the U.S. agreed to admission of Communist China in the UN, it would insist on settlement of the Tibetan problem. Mr. Murphy indicated that the U.S. was not thinking in terms of recognition of Communist China or of agreeing to its admission to the UN.

Mr. Murphy asked Mr. Martin if there was anything which could be said on the subject of refugees which had been raised by Mr. Thondup. Mr. Martin, after recalling that considerable relief supplies had been furnished the Tibetan refugees in India from the U.S. sources, indicated that the problem of training Tibetan refugees in the U.S. and other countries, such as India, was being closely studied by the Department. He could not give any specific plan at present, but this matter was being most carefully studied and considered.

Mr. Murphy mentioned that Mr. Thondup was going to address the National Press Club Friday² and indicated this would be a good way of keeping the Tibetan cause before the public. Mr. Thondup said he found it difficult to do much public speaking about Tibet at present because he has not yet had a chance to report to the Dalai Lama on the UN developments or to find out what has been developing in India during his absence. He indicated that relations with the Indian Government were delicate and he did not want to say anything here in the United States which might prejudice these relations.

In closing, Mr. Murphy reiterated the desire of the U.S. to support the principle of self-determination for the people of Tibet, in keeping with our traditional belief that all peoples should have a determining voice in their future. He said we would wish to keep this position confidential until we had a chance to communicate it formally to the Dalai Lama. Furthermore we wished to inform certain other governments, such as the Chinese Nationalist Government and the British Government, as to our position. Mr. Thondup again expressed appreciation for the stand taken by the U.S. on this matter.

Mr. Murphy said that he knew that President Eisenhower and Secretary Herter would be most interested to hear about the views which Mr. Thondup had expressed to him and he would pass these on to them.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/10–2959. Secret. Drafted by Martin and approved in M on November 3.
1. Of May 26; summarized in Document 381.
2. October 30.