Office of the Historian

795.00/7—1152: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Department of State1

top secret
priority
London, July 11, 1952—6 p.m.

206. Embtel 161, July 10,2 rptd Moscow 6, New Delhi 7.

1.
In discussion with Lloyd this morning, Krishna Menon stated he had seen Panikkar in New Delhi, who had reported:
(a)
Chi do not want Peiping continue to be center of substantive discussions which shld be transferred back to Panmunjom.
(b)
Apropos Chou En-lai’s alternative proposal (B), Chi wish avoid appearance of being sponsors. Inference was they wld be willing consider it if advanced by UN negoters.
(c)
In clarification alternative (B), Chou’s thought was not that POW’s shld be taken to Panmunjom under milit escort, but rather that they be freed from milit restraint after arrival Panmunjom.
2.
Borrowing from proposal apparently under consideration by Harrison, Lloyd suggested to Krishna Menon that in order simplify procedure, Chi POW’s shld be taken to near-by neutralized island, and there screeened by neutral body, both parties accepting in advance results such screening.
3.
UKHC being instructed discreetly check with Panikkar.
Gifford
  1. This telegram was repeated to Moscow and New Delhi.↩
  2. In the reference telegram the Embassy in London reported that it had discussed with members of the British Foreign Office the problem of distinguishing personal views and comments of Indian diplomats such as Krishna Menon and Panikkar from their factual reporting. In response to the U.S. suggestion that the British handle the Indian-Chinese contact through their Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi rather than the Indian High Commissioner in London, the Foreign Office pointed out that their man did not have ready access to top Indian officials and that Menon had previously objected strenuously to attempts to bypass him (795.00/7–1052).↩