601.9193/10–1851: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India
874. Urtel 1397 Oct 18.1 In opinion Dept you shld make effort talk with Pannikar preferably in presence Bajpai or other high official re former’s reports subj treatment US Natls Commie China. Dept aware Pannikar’s temperament, pol inclinations and possibility he may not return Peiping but of opinion if possible case these Amers shld be directly discussed with him, since he appears regard Chi Commies as having a responsible Govt. Such interview wld be first opportunity Amer official obtain first-hand account and ask questions. You shld of course make request for conversations through MEA. If not possible talk Pannikar you shld make effort talk Bajpai re Pannikar’s reports.
In such conversations stress shld not be placed primarily on fact imprisonment (as this may elicit reply China is sovereign state, etc.), but more particularly on conditions detention, which in many cases inhumane and contrary basic and well-recognized rights re treatment foreigners, including indefinite detention without trial or even notice of charges, holding incommunicado, denial access legal counsel. You shld mention this Govt’s great anxiety re these Amers heightened by approach winter.
Re ur request comment, as far as Dept is informed only small nr Chi have been arrested Phils and those arrests have been for violation Phil laws, such as illegal entry Phils, overstaying visitor’s visas, smuggling, and black market operations. Dept not aware any deviation from generally accepted standards treatment foreigners present in case arrests Phils.
Any comment Pannikar or Bajpai may make re representations Pannikar or other fon dipls Peiping to Commies, Commies’ reactions, Pannikar’s estimate outcome representations wld be interest Dept.
- The reference telegram noted that it might be possible to talk with Panikkar, who was in New Delhi, and requested guidance from the Department, particularly the Department’s comments on the Chinese charge that Chinese nationals were under arrest in the Philippines (601.9193/10–1851).↩