Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970

65. Telegram From the Embassy in Ceylon to the Department of State¹

Colombo, December 9, 1971, 0645Z.

3434. Subj: Ambassador’s Conversation on Indo-Pak Developments with Felix D. Bandaranaike. Ref: Colombo 3433.²

1. In conversation Dec 8 with Ambassador, Home Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike said Prime Minister was increasingly disturbed about developments in subcontinent which she holds fundamentally upset balance of power in Indian Ocean. Felix, in response Ambassador’s query on GOC plans for Indian Ocean resolution in UNGA, said that last two weeks³ have “changed everything”, and that he, Felix would urge PM to shelve resolution. Felix went on to say “our interests now converge” and that Ceylon’s stand on Indo-Pakistan conflict was same as yours.”

Felix then disgressed on emerging stategic situation. He envisages a “coastline of 3,000 miles” available to deploy Soviet power via her “Indian proxy.” He foresaw trouble, too, in Ceylon’s north, i.e., the Tamil area, and said he would not be surprised if India were, within next few years, to foment communal trouble in Ceylon.

3. Comment: While GOC is still gingerly seeking to readjust their position to the emergent realities in subcontinent and while government has thought fit to suppress press reports of its own UN plan (reftel), it seems that, at least for time being, Ceylon is searching for counterweight to India, since GOC increasingly skeptical of Chinese ability to check India, not to speak of Soviet Union. From general drift of Felix’s observations GOC now appears to have second thought re U.S. naval presence in Indian Ocean and is likely to welcome, at least tacitly, tokens of U.S. naval power. Our star appears to be rising.⁴

Strausz-Hupé

1. Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of Admiral Moorer, Box 113, Work File (Indian Ocean). Confidential; Immediate. It was repeated to Islamabad, New Delhi, and USUN.
2. Telegram 3433 from Colombo, December 9, reported on a Ceylonese peace proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as noted in the Ceylon Times. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27 INDIA–PAK)
3. A reference to the India–Pakistan war, which began December 3 and ended December 17. For documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971.
4. By late February 1972, the Ceylonese Prime Minister asked for visits by both the U.S. Navy and CINCPAC. This change in attitude reflected the impact of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, the India–Pakistan war, and the “realization of high degree of dependence on West for assistance.” (Telegram 535 from Colombo, February 18; National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CEYLON–US)