790B.00/6–2854
No. 170
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of
State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Secretary of
State
Subject:
- Position of Burma’s Prime Minister
Ambassador Sebald has reported on a two-hour luncheon conversation he had alone on June 1 with Burmese Prime Minister U Nu1 during which the Prime Minister asserted that he would like to speak out more boldly on the Communist Chinese danger to Burma but is held back by the conviction that under present circumstances such candor on his part would endanger Burmese democracy by dividing his own Cabinet and aiding the Opposition. The Prime Minister expressed his admiration for the boldness and forthrightness of your own speeches.
[Page 230]He said that he and his Acting Foreign Minister, U Kyaw Nyein, have agreed that neutrality is the best course for Burma to follow in view of Burma’s internal difficulties and the need to get along with those of their Cabinet colleagues whom the Prime Minister described as unprincipled opportunists.
The Prime Minister said he is exceedingly concerned over reports that the Chinese Communists have been infiltrating into the northern border areas. The Government, he said, already has some evidence that Chinese Communist agents provocateurs have been sent in and that when more evidence is at hand the Government plans to make a strong protest to Peiping.
He was convinced that Nehru’s policies stem from a morbid fear of Communist China. He said Nehru had dissuaded him last year from a plan he was considering for a non-aggression pact with the Chinese Communists; Nehru had argued that such a pact would only invite Chinese Communist aggression somewhere else. Nehru seems convinced, the Prime Minister thought, that the only way to keep Communist China from aggression against India is to remove sources of friction. U Nu said he does not share this view; that on the contrary he feels Southeast Asia will be in imminent danger when the Communists consolidate their power in China.
The Prime Minister was attracted by Ambassador Sebald’s explanation that continuing U.S. support for the Government of the Republic of China enables that Government to stand as a symbol and rallying point for non-Communist overseas Chinese.
He expressed great admiration for the U.S., and the desire to visit here when the time is right.
Ambassador Sebald comments that his conversation has further reinforced his conviction that the most responsible Burmese leaders are latently pro-Western and definitely anti-Communist. Ambassador Sebald believes Burma should not be pushed too rapidly or too far but that Burma’s leaders should be kept frankly informed of developments in Southeast Asia.
- Sebald reported the conversation in a memorandum of conversation dated June 1, enclosed in despatch 500, June 4. (790B.13/6–454)↩