NOTES FOR DCI BRIEFING OF SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON 28 APRIL 1959

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82R00025R000100060013-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2006
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: April 27, 1959
• Content Type: BRIEF

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NOTES FOR DCI BRIEFING OF
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE ON 28 APRIL 1959
27 April 1959
TIBET
I. As far back as 1956, we began to receive reports indicating spread
of Tibetan revolt against Chinese Communists through areas
inhabited by Khamba tribes in eastern Tibet.
A. Reports in late 1958 and early 1959 indicated rising tension
among Tibetans especially as result of news of communalization
in Communist China aroused apprehension.
By early March 1959, stage set for serious outbreak.
II. Fear that the Chinese were planning to kidnap Dalai Lama apparently
touched off the revolt on 10 March in Lhasa (population 80,000).
A. Thousands of 'Tibetan demonstrators then took the Dalai Lama
into protective custody in his summer palace just outside Lhasa.
B. Well-organized supporters knocked out a Chinese outpost manned
by 80 soldiers, interrupted communications with Peiping, and
plastered walls of Lhasa with posters declaring "independent
kingdom of Tibet."
III. At this early stage of the revolt, Chinese attempted to get Dalai
to induce rebels to disband. -
A. Political representative of Peiping in Tibet sent three letters
to Dalai and he sent three replies, designed to avoid armed
clash.
B. As late as 17 March, Dalai still hoped for peaceful solution,
but when shells fell near summer palace, he decided to leave
for India.
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C. Dalai Lama, mother, and younger brother and two sisters
individually slipped out of palace on 17 March and joined
escape party.,
D. Oar-- -~t rr Ww%m* Dalai Lama at this time requested
asylum in India for himself ad party. Serious fighting began
on 19 March in Lhasa and continued for several days. On
22 nd rebels driven from Lhasa, which apparently now under
firm Chinese military control.
1. Many Tibetans were killed in the capital; young men rounded
up and sent away presumably to be put in forced labor gangs.
E. Dalai Lama, formally granted asylum by Nehru during secret
31 March meeting with Dalai's brother, crossed Tibet's south-
east frontier and entered India near Towang on same day.
IV. Peiping dissolved the local Tibetan government on 28 ];arch and
replaced it with Communist-sponsored Preparatory Committee for Tibet.
A. Chinese thus reversing policy which since 1951 had been that
of working through local institutions and gradually replacing
them with Communist organizations.
B. They will now probably push ahead on hard course, "socializing"
all aspects of life in Tibet.
C. Chinese using their puppet--Panchen Lama--as temporary head of
Preparatory Committee, leaving door open on slim chance that
Dalai Lama can be persuaded to return.
V. Chinese now mopping up rebels outside key strong points; total
Communist troop strength is 61,000.
A. Rebels in southeast Tibet have been hard pressed by Communist
forces using aircraft and artillery.
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B. Large group of Khamba tribesmen and other Tibetans are
reported to be camped near the Indian border.
C. They are shoo^t of food and ammunition and under constant
Communist attack.
D. They hope to obtain permission to enter India.
E. So far, more than 1,000 refugees have fled to India and
Bhutan and Nehru has said more would be granted asylum.
VI. Dalai Lama's 18 April statement at Tezpur India stacking Chinese
Communists and stating he left Lhasa ofcwn volition
'ZVOCommunist claim he was abducted.
He appears determined to establish a "free Tibetan" government
and work for Tibetan independence, ad has expressed willingness
to seek asylum outside India if New Delhi objects to such
activities.
B. Dalai Lama's desire to state such goals publicly has already
created some difficulty with New Delhi.
1. Nehru advising Tibetans that genuine autonomy only possible
VIA /Yt. V w~.)'s t,[~-.e~ +~ ? .? aaw
goal,(although ecogn zes a elihood of this is
extremely slim.
2. Nehru has stated Dalai Lama is free to carry on spiritual
activities hut that India cannot permit hits to carry
out anti
Nen
Lama .t
VII. Nehru's policy reflects his conviction there is little India can
do to aid Tibet.
political activities,
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A. India formally recognized Tibet as part of China in 1951,
hoping Chinese Communist promises of aitonomy would be kept.
reaction in India gr
became
25x1
VIII.Reaction to Tibet revolt from neutralist Asia extremely critical
of Peiping.
A. Press and popular sentiment in all countries of South and
Southeast Asia has run ahead of government reaction.
B. Governments of some neutral countries--chiefly India and Burma--
have encouraged press and popular opposition while avoiding
formal protests,
IX. Peiping bitter over Nehru's sympathy for the Dalai Lama, but has
so far avoided formal actions which would force Nehru to respond
on a government-to-government basis.
A. Premier Chou En-lai on 18 April said there was no reason why
Sino-Indian friendship should be shaken by a "handful" of
rebels.
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ET
B. Since 23 Apri]. Peiping taking harder line, accusing "Indian
officials" of abetting "vicious attacks on China" by
releasing Dalai Lama's Tezpur statement,
C. Chinese intend) hard line as pressure on Nehru to curtail
the Dalai Lama's activities and statements,
D. Overnight Tibetan developments: Indicating his irritation
at the harder line taken by Peiping in recent days, Nehru on
27 April made his strongest criticisms of Communist China
to date.
1. He charged that "responsible people" in Communist China were
using the language of the cold war "regardless of truth
or propriety,"
2. He supported the Dalai Lama's statement that he fled of his
own free will, and added that Peiping's "charges against
India are so fantastic that I find it difficult to deal
with them."
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