Reference: Our telegram No. 29 of March 4,? and WA-616 of March 10 from Canadian Embassy, Washington.?
Repeat Washington No. 74.
The Burmese Government have asked for an additional item to be placed on the Assembly's agenda in the following terms: "Complaint by the Union of Burma regarding aggression against her by the Kuomintang Government of Formosa". This request has been circulated this afternoon, March 26, as Document A/2375.?
2. The Burmese explanatory memorandum enlarges upon the depradations of General Liu's6 troops, numbering approximately 12,000, who have been operating near the Burma-Thailand frontier. The memorandum mentions new recruits being "armed with new weapons which could only have come from sources outside Burma". The memorandum also charges that Chinese Nationalist forces have fought Burmese forces in alliance with insurgent Burmese elements. In conclusion, the memorandum points out that attempts to find a solution through the intervention of the United States with the Government of Formosa have so far proved unsuccessful. Accompanying the explanatory memorandum is a draft resolution, the text of which is given in our immediately following message, calling upon the General Assembly to recommend to the Security Council that it condemn the Government of Formosa for the acts of aggression of its forces in Burma, and asking that steps be taken to stop them.?
3. According to Ward Allen, of the United States delegation, they have as yet no indication from Washington as to what attitude they will take to these developments which, as you know from message WA-616 of March 10,? the United States Government had tried to avert. As Allen remarked, whatever the United States says on this subject before the General Assembly will be wrong.
4. It will also be highly embarrassing to the Thailand delegation and will offer full scope for Soviet propaganda.
5. Barrington, the Burmese permanent representative, has not yet returned from Rangoon. Before he left, he had said privately that he hoped that his government would not take formal action in the General Assembly, but he realized that for domestic political reasons it might be a matter of life or death for his government, who are under acute pressure from opposition parties because of the activities of Chinese nationalist forces which repeated representations have failed to check.
6. We have not yet had an opportunity to check with more than two or three delegations, but it seems probable that no attempt will be made to keep the proposed item off the agenda when the General Committee meets to consider its inclusion, probably next Tuesday, March 31.
7. We should appreciate your comments as soon as possible for our guidance in discussing this matter with friendly delegations.
6Probablement le général Li Mi, commandant des forces nationalistes chinoises (Kouo-min-tang), en Birmanie.
Probably General Li Mi, Commander of Nationalist Chinese (Kuomintang) troops in Burma.
