Office of the Historian

123 Henderson, Loy W.: Telegram

The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State

top secret
niact
New Delhi, October 6, 1950—noon.
[Received October 6—8:40 a. m.]

841. Deptel 506, October 4, 8 p. m.

1.
Have appointment with Bajpai, Secretary General MEA, noon today and will discuss with him possibility of his arranging for me to have talk with Chinese Communist Ambassador.
2.
Chinese Communist Ambassador has thus far followed stiff line in dealing with fellow-diplomats. He has not called on representatives of countries which do not maintain Ambassador or Minister in Peiping and has indicated in various conversations that he does not intend to have relations with such representatives. He, therefore, has no relations with UK High Commission.
3.
I doubt that GOI will be prepared to endeavor arrange for me to see Chinese Communist Ambassador because (a) it might consider it embarrassing to be turned down, and (b) it rather enjoys its present monopoly on communications. I shall, therefore, ask Bajpai if it might be possible to arrange for such meeting, without making direct request. If he replied in negative, I would like approach Swedish Minister who appears to have better relations with Chinese Communist Ambassador than representative any other free country. I might ask Swedish Minister first if he would object to asking Ambassador if he would be willing to talk with me and if not, if he would be willing to receive message from me. Swedish Minister is man of discretion and fully trustworthy.
4.
If Swedish Minister should be reluctant to make such approach to Ambassador, I might then ask Bajpai if he would be willing to undertake deliver message.
5.
I may be compelled to change priorities or otherwise to improvise in my attempts discreetly to get contents message to Ambassador and hope Department will give me some leeway in this matter. I shall not approach Swedish Minister without Department’s authorization.

Would appreciate early instruction.1

Henderson
  1. See footnote 1 to telegram 842 from New Delhi received at 10:03 a. m. on October 6, p. 890.↩