THE COLOMBO CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200250004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 29, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

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'NSC BRIEFING 29 April 1954
THE COLOMBO CONFERENCE
I. Background: Conference five South Asian
prime ministers (Ceylon, India, Pakistan,
Burma, Indonesia) opened Colombo 28 April.
No fixed agenda.
II. Opening Session Stresses Indochina:
A. Press reports conference "accepted"
only part Nehru's Indochina peace plan.
1. Immediate cease-fire.
2. Guarantee full independence.
B. Rejected following:
1. Direct negotiations France,
Associated States, Viet Minh.
2. Nonintervention agreement US, UK,
Communist China, USSR.
C. Agreed no action adverse to progress
Geneva.
D. New Indian draft to be presented
29 April.
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pp . ~IYI Repor~ed I re-t1'1V~~i t~ 1r iD
All (Pakistan):
A. Mohammed All suggested peace Kashmir
before world problems.
B. Nehru irritated. Reported agreed
discuss Kashmir if also consider US
aid to Pakistan.
C. Mohammed All likely needle Nehru further
Kashmir. Talks might break down into
mutual accusation session Pakistan vs.
India, due Nehru's sensitivity this
subject.
IV. Indonesia: Reported suggest recognition
Communist China which Nehru opposed. Will
also call for more inclusive conference
Asian-African states.
V. Probable Results:
A. No agreement likely detailed plans
action re Indochina.
B. Revival Nehru--Ali feud could break
down conference.
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C. But more probable broadly worded
resolution Indochina, hitting
"colonialism;" urging quick peace--
such result would save appearances,
important all concerned.
D. Overall result could be major diplomatic'
defeat Nehru, if Pakistan and Ceylon
hold firm anti-Communist line.
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NSC BRIEFING
29 APRIL 195+
CEYLON - HAS TOLD US WILL ATTEMPT TO WIN COUNTRIES TO
A POSITIVE ANTI-COMMUNISM, AS OPPOSED TO
PASSIVE ANTI-COMMUNISM OF INDIA -
(KCJTELAWALA TO VISIT US LATER)
BURMA ON THE FENCE - SUGGESTED LIAISON BETWEEN
GENEVA AND COLOMBO - THIS REJECTED -
WILL, IF IT CAN, BRING UP AREA ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS.
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CPYRGHT
First Colombo Session
(A1.-A bitter clash between In-
dian Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru and Pakistan Prime Min-
ister Mohammed All over Kash-
riff Marked the opening sessions
today of the five-nation confer-
ence of Asian Prime Ministers.,
Informants said Mr. Nehru
shoo d he could tear Mr. All
barrassment of the Geneva con-
ference an dis prepared to fight
any resolution which had the
appearance of interfering with
the discussions of the major
powers there.
Reliable sources said Ceylon
is generally in agreement with
this policy, partly as a result of
continuing talks between Great
Britain and the Ceylon govern-
ment.
Nehru Plan Opposed
Some opposition to Mr. Nehru's
Indo-Chinese plan developed
during the afternoon session.
Pakistan, while supporting the
cease-fire and independence of
Indo-China, objected particu-
larly to a clause in Mr. Nehru's
proposal coiling for non-inter-
vention by the United States,
Great Britain, Russia and Red
China.
Mr. biz ted_ the conference
not to "tie the hands- o e
Geneva mctLTng aricT"s17gg?~d
ins~'ea'd`tha~ ~uoutTi Asian a -
ers agree in general trm tea
declara tion on Indo-C~eh-,K and
lee,.the d .,etailsS'~Pieiieva.
The Prim m `s`ti'rr'1ailed to
reach agreement on the Nehru
Indo-China proposals and will
continue their discussions to-
morrow.
tier lirincely state- wT i1 ose con-
trol is sought by both India and
Pakistan.
onf~rence s6ss Eons are secret,
but briefings are held for news-
paper men. Informants said the
c1 ssh betweei Mi Nehru an
Further dispute was avoided
when Ceylon's Sir John Kotela-
wela switched the subject to the
Geneva conference, which is
castsinga long shadow over the
Asian meeting here of Prime
Ministers from India, Pakistan,
Ceylon, Indonesia and Burma.
As first day's formal meetings
ended it was apparent the In-
dian delegation Caine to Colom-
bo with the goal of winning ap-
proval for two of Mr. Nehru's
plans: settlement of the Indo-
Chinese conflict with a cease-
"ffrethe"first order of business,
and a proposal for halting ex-
periments and development of
hydrogen bombs and other mass
destruction, weapons:
, gakistan's intentions, too, ap-
pe1red equally clear. Those
Within the meeting said Mr. All
preSt~m~~}ps.. AL.~s to ureaCh
pe&M to others until we suc-
ceed in establishing mu ual un-
ers an g an rus _among
nurse ves
Change the Subject
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