033.9390B/7–1954: Telegram
No. 235
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the
Department of State1
74. Department 58, July 15.2 I had long talk with Pillai July 17 regarding Chou visit to Rangoon. Pillai indicated Chou was anxious to act on his own in foreign affairs, particularly as regards visits, perhaps to demonstrate independence from Moscow. I have no doubt Nehru was glad for Chou to visit Rangoon to enable Burmese to state their concern regarding Communist infiltration to him directly, and visit was definitely discussed between Nehru and Chou, but I am not certain who took initiative.
Pillai confirmed information Radhakrishnan had given me regarding Chou’s assurances that Peking “had no desire to interfere in affairs of other countries”. Pillai’s version, however, was slightly less emphatic than Radhakrishnan’s. Pillai says Chou told U Nu that policy of present Peking regime was in direct contrast to that of Chiang Kai-shek, “who thinks Chinese should remain 100 percent Chinese no matter how long they live abroad”. Chou said he [Page 501] “was confident” Peking would issue policy statement calling on Chinese abroad either to adopt nationality of country of residence or refrain from political activity. I gather tone of Chou–U Nu talks was rather similar to tone of Chou–Nehru talks. Both Nehru and U Nu put questions to Chou indicating uncertainty regarding Chinese intentions. Chou, while making every effort to calm their fears, emphasized his concern over American efforts to encircle China and overthrow Peking regime, thus endeavoring to avert picture of China as aggressor to picture of China as victim of United States aggressive designs.
- Repeated for information to Rangoon.↩
- Telegram 58 requested information concerning Chou En-lai’s conversations with U Nu, stating that, according to press reports, the Secretary General of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Narayana Raghavan Pillai, had been present during at least some of the talks. (033.9390B/7–1554)↩