Office of the Historian

793B.00/7–1251: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India 1

top secret
Washington, July 13, 1951—8 p. m.

107. Ref Deptel 91 to ND, 23 to Calcutta, twelfth. Dept concerned by possibility Dalai Lama no longer free agent as reported New Delhi tel 157 twelfth2 (rpt Calcutta as ND 27) and reported presence Chi Commie troops Gartok and Chambo. Believe imperative decisive steps taken by DL soonest. Dept suggests fol:

1.
DL shld be advised approach GOI for transit consent and GOG for asylum permission soonest. Emb shld support DL approach GOI if requested by DL. Suggest Emb and UK HO make joint approach,
2.
If GOI during transit talks offers planes use DL, advise DL accept offer. If no GOI offer made, inform Dept soonest that US Cits. funds necessary. (Ref Deptel 91 twelfth)

FYI Dept believes preferable DL denunciation Chi agreement shld follow DL approach GOI and completion travel plans. UK and GOI [Page 1750] coop apparently conditioned on public DL claim negots made under duress. In talks here Takster disclaimed ability evaluate reported Tibetan plan end all resistance and DL’s alleged decision return Lhasa. (Ref Calcutta’s 34 twelfth, rptd ND 36)

Acheson
  1. Also sent to Calcutta as number 28.↩

  2. Telegram 157 from New Delhi, July 12, read as follows:

    “Dutt, MEA, advised me late last nite GOI informed that Dalai Lama wld return Lhasa July 20. Questioned re source info, Dutt said GOI regarded it as ‘good’. He commented that GOI info was at variance with info recently recd from Embassy. I remarked that it seemed extraordinary Dalai Lama shld make such decision even prior departure Chi del Kalimpong for Yatung and added that if true GOI info seemed imply Dalai Lama no longer free agent.

    “Dept may wish discuss above with Taktse and advise us his comments.” (793B.00/7–1251)

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