795.00/1–1551: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
1706. 1. Menon, Foreign Secretary, tells me Panikkar had talk several days ago with Chou En-lai1 re UN proposal cease-fire. Chou En-lai somewhat noncommittal. Suggested proposal would be more palatable Peking if it could provide for cease-fire and conversations to take place simultaneously. He would nevertheless discuss matter with government.
2. I asked Menon if Panikkar explained what Chou En-lai had in mind and whether Menon understood precisely what was meant. I [Page 83] wondered whether Chou En-lai meant that there would be temporary cease-fire while brief conversations were held with understanding that hostilities would resume if conversations did not lead to immediate agreement. Menon said Panikkar did not try interpret meaning of Chou En-lai’s remark and Menon could not understand it himself. Perhaps Chou En-lai merely meant that conversations were to take place immediately following issuance orders for cease-fire.
- Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China.↩