793.5/3–2054
No. 264
Memorandum by the Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African
Affairs (Jernegan) to the
Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)1
Subject:
- Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China
I refer to your memorandum of August 25 to the Secretary.
In Mr. Byroade’s memorandum dated March 22, 1954,2 he indicated that India believes Communist China could be drawn away from the Soviet Union by careful handling which would include admitting Communist China to the UN and letting it have Formosa. Now that peace, however uneasy, has been restored to Southeast Asia, and India is playing a leading role in the International Supervisory Commission for Indochina, a mutual defense treaty between the Republic of China and the United States would be regarded by India as an unnecessary provocation to Communist China. It also would commit us in Asian eyes to a long range policy of opposition to a negotiated settlement with Communist China.
Our relations with India have not improved during the last five months and probably have slightly deteriorated, largely as a result of our collective security efforts in the general area. It is national policy to support the continuation in power in India of elements which are friendly to the United States, but the proposed treaty would further antagonize India and might drive it closer to Communist China. In addition, such a treaty would increase the misgivings of countries in the Near East which are skeptical of our policy with respect to Communist China and tend to share India’s views on developments in Asia.
I believe that these aspects of the problem should be mentioned to the Secretary.
- Sent to Secretary Dulles as an attachment to Document 262.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 4, Document 182.↩