793.00/8–1051: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Republic of China
124. Dept desires you seek early opportunity discuss with FonMin reported attack Li Mi forces Burma1 against Yunnan and public attribution to Chi Govt responsibility this operation. You shld point out that public assumption responsibility by Chi Govt wld appear [Page 1776] inconsistent with previous assertion Chi Govt, which US Govt transmitted in good faith to Burm Govt, that Chi troops Burma “form no part Chi fighting force and Chi Govt no longer has any control over them”. Furthermore, apparent acceptance responsibility aggravates concern of Burma and other countries at use Burm terr as base from which to stage mil operations against adjacent for terrs and might cause serious embarrassment if Burma shld raise issue in UN. You shld inform FonMin that these are aspects of situation which we believe Chi Govt in its own interest wld wish to give most careful consideration before assuming any public responsibility for mil operations of nature reported to have taken place on Burm frontier.
- For documentation regarding U.S. concern over the presence in Burma of Chinese Nationalist troops commanded by General Li Mi, see vol. vi, Part 1, pp. 267 ff.↩