Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, East Asian Security; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XXI

215. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State¹

New Delhi, July 17, 1955—8 p.m.

103. Reference Department telegram Niact 116 repeated information Phnom Penh 52 Ottawa 23 Paris 219 London 261.² I saw Nehru same day reference telegram received and discussed with him Indochina situation as well as Chou En-lai’s message reported Embassy telegram 102 July 17.³ Prime Minister initiated discussions by mentioning Laos saying reports fighting greatly exaggerated. Nehru thought current military and political meetings under auspices ICC best course at present in endeavor persuade parties reach agreement. Such discussions he felt more helpful than statements by ICC. Prime Minister noted according his information however members ICC were sitting at political meetings “really as observers and only as observers” for they could not understand either French or Cambodian language.

I then raised subject pending ICC resolution re MDA Cambodia. Nehru made no comment except that statement by USA would be helpful to ICC. I said US Government had information that ICC was considering a resolution finding that MDA was not adverse to Geneva yet that this statement might include an expression of continuing doubt about points in agreement. I noted such statement would leave MDA open to controversy and election campaign propaganda purposes. Further I said that such language by ICC would imply “we had heard your statements and don’t wholly believe you”. Nehru made no comment but suggested I talk to Dutt when I had news from US Government regarding statement.

My analysis follows:

1. Dutt’s statement to me July 15 (Embassy telegram 98 repeated London 14 Paris 10 Phnom Penh 7 Ottawa 5 Saigon 4⁴) correctly reflected Nehru’s views.

2. If US Government is prepared make some statement⁵ through Cambodia as considered in Department telegram 48 repeated Phnom Penh 24 Ottawa 13 Paris 79 London 129,⁶ I could take stronger position with Dutt and with Nehru urging deletion paragraph 7 and certainly its non-publication.

3. If Department does not desire to make such statement I can of course still urge Dutt not include paragraph 7, but do not think I have much leverage as I have already expressed US views to Nehru.

4. While continued suggestions by Government of India of their desire for US statement indicated final instructions have not gone to Indian Chairman ICC I believe such instructions imminent.

5. It is not clear whether Department has decided to make statement for use by Cambodia before ICC.

If decision referred to immediately above has been made, please inform New Delhi immediately as Nehru, Dutt and Jha continue ask if I have heard from Department. Indeed I cannot bring matter to head with Government of India re deleting paragraph 7 nor non-publication of ICC proposed resolution without having both Department’s decision and text of its statement if latter is to be issued.

If Department has decided to issue statement, Embassy’s view is that Government of India would be satisfied by concise statement that purpose of MDA is for defense Cambodia only and is in complete accord with Geneva and that US Government is in agreement with Cambodian Government on points of interpretation.

Cooper

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751H.5–MSP/7–1755. Secret; Priority. Sent priority to Geneva and repeated to Phnom Penh, Ottawa, Paris, London, and Vientiane.
2. Supra.
3. Telegram 102, repeated to Geneva for Dulles, dealt with talks between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.00/7–1755)
4. In telegram 98 from New Delhi, July 15, the Embassy reported that Dutt characterized the Cambodian letter of July 13 to the ICC as “fully acceptable to the Government of India but the question would still be raised that it was unilateral, and the Government of India hoped the United States would take opportunity to make statement confirming Cambodian position.” (Ibid., 751H.5–MSP/7–1555)
5. The Department and the Embassy in Phnom Penh considered submitting a statement through Cambodia to the ICC. The text of one was informally given to the ICC Chairman, but since the ICC passed a resolution retaining Article 7 (see footnote 3, Document 213) on July 23, the Department decided that the statement was unnecessary. (Telegrams 61 to Phnom Penh, July 18; 80 from Phnom Penh, July 21; 82 to Phnom Penh, July 22; 95 from Phnom Penh, July 23; 84 and 87 to Phnom Penh, July 23 and 24; Department of State, Central Files, 751H.5–MSP/7–1755 to 751H.5–MSP/7–2455, inclusive)
6. Document 212.