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

399. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India⁰

Washington, November 25, 1959, 10:18 p.m.

1947. Department’s 1652, repeated London 3695, repeated information Taipei 301.¹ You should take earliest suitable occasion deliver letter given below to Dalai Lama for purpose informing him formally US Government position on Tibetan self-determination. It left your discretion whether to deliver letter in person, or transmit by other means, according your judgment probable reaction of GOI as well as possibilities attracting unwanted public attention. Transmittal of letter should be performed in advance of President’s arrival New Delhi. Letter should be on official stationery and signed by yourself as Ambassador to India. In transmitting to Dalai Lama request him undertake not make existence of letter or any portion of its contents public without prior approval US Government, citing need for careful timing of public announcement of US position on Tibetan self-determination. FYI: We plan making announcement as soon as appears advisable following President’s trip to India. Before announcement actually made Dept will communicate with you regarding timing. End FYI. Text letter follows:

“Your Holiness:

“I have been instructed by the Department of State to inform you of the position of the US Government with respect to the political aspirations of the Tibetan people. As you may have heard from your brother and special representative Gyalo Thondup, the views of the US on this subject were conveyed to him by Under Secretary Robert Murphy and Assistant Secretary J. Graham Parsons respectively, on October 29 and October 31.² This position was subsequently set forth in a letter dated November 4, 1959, from Mr. Murphy to your brother³ as follows:

‘While it has been the historical position of the United States to consider Tibet as an autonomous country under the suzerainty of China, the American people have also traditionally stood for the principle of self-determination. It is the belief of the United States Government that this principle should apply to the people of Tibet and that they should have the determining voice in their own political destiny The United States Government is prepared, when a suitable opportunity presents itself, to make a public declaration of its support for the principle of self-determination for the Tibetan people.’

“During their conversations With Gyalo Thondup, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Parsons indicated that the US Government intended to inform the Governments of the Republic of China, the UK, and India of its position. I have been asked to tell you that my Government has already so notified these Governments.⁴ I may also add that my Government has noted the statement of President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China on March 26 of this year that his Government, once the Chinese Communist regime has disappeared, would ‘assist the Tibetan people to realize their own aspirations in accordance with the principle of self-determination.’ My Government has noted with satisfaction the adoption by the UNGA last month of the Resolution calling for respect for fundamental human rights in Tibet⁵ and believes that this Resolution bespoke the deep sympathy of the free peoples of the world in the cause of the Tibetan people.

“The American people have watched with admiration the heroic effort of the Tibetan people to defend their liberties and to resist the attempt of the Chinese Communists to fasten an oppressive and dictatorial rule on Tibet. I wish to express to your Holiness on behalf of my Government its profound sympathy for the Tibetan people in their present suffering and its hope that the day may soon come when the Tibetans can again live in peace and freedom.”

Herter

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/11–2559. Secret. Drafted by Bennett; cleared by Bartlett, Hart, Steeves, and Parsons and in draft with IO, L/FE, and BNA; and approved by Merchant. Repeated to Taipei and London.
1. Telegram 1652 to New Delhi, November 6, instructed the Embassies in London and New Delhi to inform the British and Indian Governments of the U.S. decision to support the principle of self-determination with respect to Tibet. (Ibid., 793B.00/11–659; see Supplement)
2. See Document 396 and footnotes 1 and 3, Document 397.
3. Filed with a letter of November 2 from Thondup to Murphy. (Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/11–259; see Supplement)
4. Telegram 2482 from London, November 9, reported that the Embassy had informed the Foreign Office that day; telegram 1791 from New Delhi, November 17, reported that the Ambassador had informed Foreign Secretary Dutt on November 14. (Department of State, Central Files, 793B.00/11–959 and 793B.00/11–1759, respectively)
5. On October 21; see footnote 1, Document 395.