Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East Region; Iran; Iraq, Volume XII

216. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Rountree) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, April 4, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Richards Mission—Afghanistan, April 1–3²

Discussions

In preliminary frank talks Foreign Minister Naim stressed disequilibrium in Middle East and Afghan concern with its security position as governed by geography. Richards noted how the U.S. had thrown away its arms after the last war, permitting the Soviets to swallow countries one by one. Now the U.S. is prepared, will not start war, but will win. He does not expect another invasion, but if war came, free world must be defended at its perimeter.

Richards in formal talk with Prime Minister Daud gave a careful presentation of the Doctrine, stressing that the Middle East states are not friendless if attacked but we seek no bases, alliances or meddling. The Afghan response was reasonably good. Daud stressed neutrality, peace, independence, and the incompatibility of communism. He had accepted aid from the north but without conditions. Richards assured him we are not critical provided Daud keeps in mind how Soviets subverted other countries. The President asked him to tell the Afghans we do not seek to impose our will on anyone and in our creed we prefer to die as free men rather than live as slaves. Daud did not probe the specifics of the use of U.S. armed forces and this subject was cautiously skirted.

Commitments

(1) Equipment for road improvement and maintenance, half loan, half grant—$2.0 million

(2) Motor vehicles and maintenance equipment, loan basis—$2.2 million

(3) Coal trucks and equipment, loan basis—$800 thousand

(4) Civil police equipment, grant basis—$360 thousand

(5) U.S. prepared to allocate $2,950,000 from regular program funds for Helmand Valley project, additional financing subject to appropriations

(6) Renewed assurances of U.S. interest in a regional transportation survey

(7) Richards noted Afghan interest in a PL 480 program.

Comments

This was a difficult negotiation for Richards, and SOA feels that he handled it extremely well. Ambassador Mills was insistent before Richards arrived that the program be considerably larger. The actual commitments are exactly as recommended by the Department and ICA, but an attempt has been made to round them out with additional assurances of U.S. interest.

In his Kabul discussions Richards wisely did not employ his previously successful gambit of asking for comments on other Middle East states.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1580/5–1057. Secret. Drafted by Bliss. Also addressed to the Under Secretary of State.
2. For documentation on the Richards Mission visit to Afghanistan, see vol. VIII, pp. 250–254. For text of the joint communiqué issued on April 2 in Kabul, see Department of State Bulletin, May 6, 1957, pp. 729–730.