Reference: See my preceding telegram. ?
The general debate on the Burmese item began this morning, Saturday, with statements from the representatives of Burma, China, and the US. The debate will be resumed on Monday afternoon.
2. The three speakers devoted considerable attention to the release issued by the Joint Military Committee in Bangkok on October 29 last to the effect that the Republic of China has given assurance that about 2,000 foreign forces together with their dependents will be evacuated from Burma; that all foreign forces refusing to leave Burma under this plan will be disavowed; and that China will not help those remaining with any supplies.
3. The Burmese delegate (U Myint Thein) made a good statement. He reviewed developments since the last General Assembly in a pessimistic vein and made a number of points including the following:
(a) Burma is not enthusiastic over the plan announced on October 29 to remove 2,000 men. At best, this is looked upon as a first instalment. Burma looks upon the arrangement as a token removal which may avoid General Assembly action but which will leave the Chinese army in Burma more or less intact. Burma holds Chiang Kai Shek and General Li Mi morally bound to remove the whole 12,000 or at least to disarm those who were locally recruited.
(b) US moral pressure on Formosa is not enough. A US threat to oust Nationalist China from its seat in the United Nations or to suspend US economic aid would cause the Chinese troops in Burma to disappear over night.
(c) Burma, however, is not submitting a resolution. It will, Thein said, be necessary for the Committee "to think of ways and means of implementing the mild resolution which the 7th Assembly in its wisdom adopted".
4. The Chinese representative (Tsiang) naturally attached great importance to the undertaking of China referred to in paragraph 2 above. He said that these obligations had been accepted without any qualification. Tsiang also intimated that the figure of 2,000 was never intended to serve as an upper limit. More will be evacuated if the Government of Burma or the UN can succeed in persuading them to go to Formosa. Though Nationalist China will accept those willing to be evacuated, it will not coerce anyone unwilling to go to Formosa.
5. The US delegate (Carey) reviewed developments since the resolution of April last, and made a number of points including the following:
(a) The US deplores the presence of unwanted foreign troops in Burma.
(b) He considers the agreement for the evacuation of 2,000 troops as an important step. The movement of troops will begin next week. Carey expressed the hope that personnel beyond the estimated 2,000 would be persuaded to quit Burma. He acknowledged, however, that the Chinese Government has small influence over the majority of these forces.
(c) In the view of the US Government, the removal of all foreign forces amenable to the influence of the Chinese Government constitutes substantially the limit of what can be achieved by international action and peaceful methods.
(d) Hence, while regretting the continuance of unwanted foreign forces on Burmese soil, the US Government considers that it is not in the power of other governments to secure complete evacuation by peaceful means.
(e) US interest in this problem will not cease with the evacuation of the 2,000 troops. The US will then consult with the interested parties regarding what further action might usefully be taken.
(f) The US did not suggest any resolution.
6. Copies of these three speeches will go forward by bag. ?
