Office of the Historian

349. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India0

Washington, December 23, 1963, 7:34 p.m.

1281. Deptel 1267 to New Delhi,1 info Karachi 830, London 3796, Moscow 1852. During call by Ambassador B.K. Nehru on Secretary Dec. [Page 727] 21, Secretary described current state our relations with Soviets (being reported by memcon). Toward close conversation B.K. Nehru referred to remarks Dec. 18 by Under Secretary on US attitude toward Soviet military aid to India (reftel) and asked for clarification. Ambassador incorrectly interpreted Mr. Ball’s remarks as meaning India would have to exclude all Soviet military aid if it were to be able rely on US military assistance. Secretary replied he would inquire into matter and we would be in touch with Ambassador Nehru prior departure for consultation.

Talbot called in Ambassador Dec. 23 to convey US position. Talbot said Mr. Ball’s remarks should not be interpreted to mean we would expect India forego Soviet military aid as condition US military aid. We recognize that Indians may not exclude all such Soviet aid. We do, however, proceed from assumption that US is clearly the more reliable source of support to India against Chicoms. Our specific judgment on significance of Soviet military assistance would be determined by number of factors including following: quantities and types of Soviet aid accepted, effect on security US equipment, compatibility of differing types equipment, extent to which Soviet assistance requires introduction Soviet technicians, US Congressional attitudes, impact Soviet aid, and degree of Indian dependence on Soviets. Talbot concluded by saying he assumed Indians were examining implications of Soviet aid along similar lines.

Ambassador recalled earlier US-Indian talks on implications Soviet military aid when Indian military team visited USSR last summer. Said position as restated by Talbot seemed reasonable enough.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19 US-INDIA. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Schneider and approved by Talbot. Repeated to London, Karachi, and Moscow.↩
  2. Document 344.↩