402. Letter From Secretary of State Herter to the Dalai Lama0
Your Holiness: Thank you for your letters of September 13 and 16, 1960.1
In your letter of September 13 you requested United States’ assistance for the Tibetan people in their struggle against Communist oppression and support for renewed United Nations consideration of Tibet. I assure you that the United States, by every appropriate means, will continue its endeavors to bring the pressure of world public opinion to bear against the actions of the Chinese Communists in Tibet. Experience has shown that even Communistic regimes cannot completely disregard strong expressions of world public opinion, and I hope that further action by the United Nations General Assembly will, in some measure, help to alleviate the sufferings of your people. I also assure you that the United States is ready to render such assistance as may be requested by [Page 811] Malaya and Thailand, co-sponsors of the item on Tibet, which appears likely to further the above-mentioned goal.
In your letter of September 16 you suggested that the United States seek adoption of a resolution by which the General Assembly would recognize the Tibetan people’s right of self-determination, appoint the Secretary General of the United Nations or a committee to supervise the exercise of this right, and establish some machinery for ensuring continuing United Nations consideration of the Tibetan question.
First, let me assure you that the position of the United States remains as stated in my letter to you of February 20, 1960, i.e., that the principle of self-determination should apply to the people of Tibet and that they should have the determining voice in their own political destiny. The United States intends to reiterate its position on this matter during the General Assembly debate on Tibet. Concerning your suggestion for specific elements to be included in a resolution, I will be happy to bring them to the attention of Malaya and Thailand, who, as co-sponsors, have the primary responsibility for drafting a resolution on Tibet.2 Although it would clearly be desirable to have the three elements which you mentioned included in a resolution, I am certain that the co-sponsors will wish to consider carefully the support these suggestions are likely to receive in the General Assembly. They may well find that it is preferable to concentrate on seeking increased support for a resolution along the lines of the one adopted last year if it should appear that there would be a decline in support as the result of adding new elements.
The American people continue to admire the heroic struggle of the Tibetan people to maintain their religion and culture in the face of ruthless efforts to Communize them by force. I am certain that free men everywhere continue to hope that the brave Tibetan people will survive their present ordeal and that they will eventually be able to live a life of their own choosing in peace.
Most sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/9–1660. No classification marking. Drafted by Newlin and cleared with FE, CA, SOA, and IO.↩
- The former has not been found. The latter is filed with the source text. See Supplement.↩
- On August 19, Malaya and Thailand had proposed inscription of “The Question of Tibet” on the General Assembly’s agenda.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩