Viewing page 22 of 79

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

373  

U Thant, Secretary to U Nu

the possibility of ptg. Nehru - Bracha suggested my painting Ben Gurion. We will see. It is all building up so fast I can't keep up with it. I hope I will.

Last Day in Rangoon.

Saturday March 19th.

U Thant, secretary to U Nu came three times to our house. In the morning (at ten, when I was getting my tickets at P.AA) to bring a letter of introduction to U Kyin, personally.

"Dear U Kyin: 19 March '55.
The bearer of this letter is Miss Anna Walinska, an Amer. artist of repute who was in Burma for a few weeks. She has done a very remarkable portrait of Premier U Nu after three or four sittings at irregular intervals. The Prime Minister was so impressed with her work that he 



374  

U Thant - Letter to Nehru-

has asked me to cable you on the possibility of persuading Premier Sri Nehru to sit for a similar portrait if convenient. I hope you must have received the cable sent through the Foreign Office today.

The Hon'ble Minister would be glad if the Hon'ble Sri Nehru, among his multifarious duties, could find time to sit for Miss Walinska.

Hope this finds you and family in the best of health & spirits

Yours sincerely,
Maung Thant.

H. C. Malia Thray Sithee U Kyin
Burmese Ambassador
New Delhi.

The second time he came I was asleep. He left a note to Ambassador U Kyin. March 19 '55

My dear U Kyin,

Just a few lines by way of a special request. I would be very much obliged if you would kindly book a seat for Miss Anna