Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, South and Southeast Asia, Volume XV

334. Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State¹

Karachi, October 31, 1958—1 p.m.

1083. Athens (for Secretary McElroy). Kabul (for Ambassador Langley). Reference: Deptels 1004 and 992; Embtel 1063.² Not knowing exactly when we would be seeing President Ayub within next few days and the time factor being important, I decided to ask for a few minutes of his time and saw him this morning within hour after request.

Making clear Ambassador was absent in Kabul, I said I had most pleasant task to discharge today in that I had come to express on behalf of USG sincere good wishes for his success in achieving important goals which he has set himself for promoting welfare of people of Pakistan. I went on to say that USG had also noted with gratification that his ultimate aim, as indicated in his declaration of October 8th, was to restore workable constitutional government in Pakistan. I assured President Ayub that wherever appropriate and within its available resources USC desires assist GOP in future as it has in past.

President Ayub said he was not surprised. He had expected such a message from such warm friends as the US. He was much pleased however to receive this expression of good wishes which he heartily reciprocated. He asked me to assure USG that recent developments have, if anything, strengthened Pakistan’s faithfulness to its alliances. Pakistan is more than ever on the side of the free people of the West. Continuance US aid is matter of life and death to Pakistan. He stressed his view that Pakistan revolution unique in recent times in that it was a revolution away from Communism rather than towards Communism.

I then handed the President Secretary McElroy’s personal message of congratulations.

In concluding above brief ten minute conversation, President Ayub asked me to convey to USG his conviction that Pakistan–US relations would continue closer than ever.

Knight

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.00/10–3158. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Athens and Kabul.

2. In telegram 1063 from Karachi, October 30, Langley reported that the Air Attaché in Pakistan had just received a message from McElroy for delivery to Ayub congratulating him on his assumption of the office of President of Pakistan. Langley noted that he was withholding delivery of the message because he believed the question of recognition might still be open. He requested the Department’s urgent instructions. (Ibid., 790D.11/10–3058)

   In telegram 992 to Karachi, October 29, the Department stated that although a message had not yet been sent to Ayub comparable to that sent to Mirza after the original takeover, “this has only been because we have not had ourselves message to which it would be appropriate reply.” The Department suggested, however, that Langley might wish to indicate to Ayub that the U.S. Government’s attitude toward him “is exactly same as our attitude towards his predecessor.” (Ibid., 790D.00/10–2958) In telegram 1004 to Karachi, October 30, the Department informed Langley that it concurred with his withholding McElroy’s letter until after he made the démarche as instructed in telegram 992. (Ibid., 790D.00/10–3058)