845.24/299: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Officer in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell)
738. Your 954, December 17, 11 a.m. and your 958, December 18, 3 p.m. Any interpretative comment you may offer regarding Lend-Lease agreement between United States and India will be welcome. Since such an agreement is included among the five British financial demands on India reported in your 958, direct Lend-Lease relations between the United States and India would presumably be of financial assistance to Britain. Are you able to offer any explanation?
For your personal information, it has been suggested here that the proposal for direct Lend-Lease relations with India may have originated with American military authorities in India, based on their dissatisfaction with manner in which American Army requisitions for Indian supplies have been met. Please comment.