U.S. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CEYLON; U.S. CONCERN WITH POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN CEYLON1

1. For previous documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. VIII, pp. 259 ff.


179. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 20, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 846E.49/1–2058. Confidential. Drafted by Smith.


180. Despatch From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 110.15–RO/2–1758. Official Use Only.


181. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, February 27, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.00/2–2758. Confidential. Drafted by Hoffaker.


182. National Intelligence Estimate

Source: Department of State, INRNIE Files. Secret. National Intelligence Estimates were high-level interdepartmental reports appraising foreign policy problems. NIEs were drafted by officers from those agencies represented on the Intelligence Advisory Committee, discussed and revised by interdepartmental working groups coordinated by the Office of National Estimates of the CIA, approved by the IAC, and circulated under the aegis of the President to appropriate officers of cabinet level, and the members of the NSC. The Department of State provided all political and some economic sections of NIEs.

According to a note on the cover sheet, the following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: the CIA and the intelligence organizations of the Department of State, Army, Navy, Air Force, and The Joint Staff. All members of the IAC concurred with the estimate on March 18 with the exception of the representatives of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Those representatives abstained since the subject being considered was outside their jurisdiction.


183. Telegram From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.5–MSP/5–1758. Confidential.


184. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 27, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.5–MSP/5–2758. Confidential. Drafted by Smith.

On May 23, Ambassador Gunewardene wrote to Secretary Dulles, asking him to “see that all possible steps are taken to help my Government to tide over this most difficult situation.” (Ibid., 846E.10/5–2358) On the same day, Gunewardene also transmitted a letter to President Eisenhower from Prime Minister Bandaranaike which reads as follows: “Your Ambassador here as well as my Ambassador in Washington will be placing before your Government certain urgent and critical problems that have arisen in respect of the Budget which my Government has to place before our Parliament early in July. In view of the grave importance to us that these discussions should be successful, I am sending the Finance Minister himself to represent me and to lead the Ceylon Delegation. My Government is most grateful for the sympathetic interest you have shown in the solution of our problems. I commend for your earnest consideration the request for assistance and aid which my Finance Minister will be making personally.” (Ibid., 846E.10/5–2358)


185. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 28, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.5–MSP/5–2858. Confidential. Drafted by Smith on May 29.


186. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, June 6, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.5–MSP/6–658. Confidential. Drafted by Bartlett.


187. Despatch From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.5–MSP/7–2958. Confidential.


188. National Intelligence Estimate

Source: Department of State, INRNIE Files. Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet, the following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: the CIA and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, Army, Navy, Air Force, and The Joint Staff. All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred with the estimate on December 9, with the exception of the representatives of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Those representatives abstained since the subject being considered was outside their jurisdiction.


189. Despatch From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1446E/4–2259. Secret.


190. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Cumming) to the Acting Secretary of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.00/5–859. Secret.


191. Telegram From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.00/7–1359. Top Secret.


192. Special National Intelligence Estimate

Source: Department of State, INRNIE Files. Secret. According to a note on the cover sheet, “The following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and The Joint Staff.” This estimate was concurred in by the United States Intelligence Board on July 14. “Concurring were the Director of Intelligence and Research, Department of State; the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army; the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Intelligence, Department of the Navy; the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, USAF; the Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff; the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Special Operations, and the Director of the National Security Agency. The Atomic Energy Commission Representative to the USIB, and the Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, abstained, the subject being outside of their jurisdiction.”


194. Telegram From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746E.00/10–659. Confidential.


195. Letter From the Deputy Chief of Mission in Ceylon (Smith) to the Director of the Office of South Asian Affairs (Bartlett)

Source: Department of State, SOA Files: Lot 62 D 443, Official–Informal Correspondence. Secret; Official–Informal.


198. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ceylon

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 846E.2553/12–2660. Confidential. Drafted by Robert Caldwell and approved by G. Lewis Jones. Repeated to London.