Office of the Historian

98. National Security Action Memorandum No. 1250

Washington, January 22, 1962.

TO

  • The Honorable Fowler Hamilton
  • Administrator
  • Agency for International Development

SUBJECT

  • Pakistan Consortium

I have made the determination requested by you in your memorandum of January 18, 19621 with respect to the Pakistan Second Five-Year Plan. In it you are authorized to make a pledge at the forthcoming Pakistan Consortium meeting which would bring our contribution up to $500 million out of the $945 million needed by Pakistan, subject to a number of conditions. One of these conditions is that pledges from other Consortium members must be sufficient to assure that the target will be substantially met.2

I am concerned at the prospect that the total amount of the pledges as indicated so far may be insufficient to meet the agreed upon target, since a failure to provide what competent analysts have determined to be Pakistan’s needs would seriously weaken the image of the United States and the West as determined to advance the development of our staunchest partners. In the event that a shortfall threatens, therefore, I would like you to consult with me immediately in order to determine what steps may best be taken.

Sincerely,

John F. Kennedy3
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 125. No classification marking. Copies were sent to the Secretary of State, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the President of the Export-Import Bank.↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. The conditions established by President Kennedy were met when the Pakistan consortium reconvened in Washington on January 24, under the auspices of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The consortium, which had initiated consideration of Pakistan’s development plan in June 1961, endorsed Pakistan’s request for $945 million in aid for the years 1961/1962 and 1962/1963. Of the $945 million, the United States committed to provide $500 million. (Telegram 1496 to Karachi, January 26; Department of State, Central Files, 890D.00/1-2662)↩
  4. Printed from a copy that indicates Kennedy signed the original.↩