| Tibet played an important, yet little studied role in American foreign policy deliberations during the Eisenhower administration. In fact, by 1959, U.S. involvement had grown to the point that members of the Tibetan resistance movement were secretly being trained in the United States to conduct operations in Tibet against the Chinese communists. The research question asked in this dissertation was "Which factors had a major influence on the Eisenhower administration in its development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy towards Tibet during the years 1953-1961?"; Using the analytical model set forth by Charles W. Kegley, Jr. and Eugene R. Wittkopf, I examined each of the key factors, addressed their impact, and assessed the outcome. I reviewed external, governmental, societal, role and individual source influences to answer the main research question and nineteen subsidiary questions. Primary sources used include White House memoranda, State Department and CIA reports, as well as communications between the United States and the governments of Tibet, India, and Taiwan, available through the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Harry S. Truman Library, and the National Archives.; The study analyzes U.S. interests in Asia and the effects of these interests on the development of related policy. It also assesses American domestic actors' perceptions and influence and the rise of such organizations such as the National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency and the 5412 Group. Finally, this study examines the U.S. foreign policy decision-making process and its specific effect on the development of policy towards Tibet.; U.S. policy provided for limited overt and covert support to Tibet, exploited the Tibetan issue and subordinated Tibetan policy to other, more important interests in Asia. U.S. policy towards Tibet during the Eisenhower administration grew out of the prevailing Cold War environment as well as interaction between a variety of foreign and domestic actors and their agendas. |
