Office of the Historian

118. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India1

Washington, May 8, 1965, 2:34 p.m.

2349. Eyes Only Ambassador From Secretary. I would greatly appreciate your personal estimate as to whether Shastri’s political weakness may not be major element of danger in present situation. Reports just received of arrest of Sheik Abdullah2 and rioting in Srinagar3 are further signs that he may be too weak to be wise. His attempt in parliament yesterday to lay blame on us, despite his knowledge of strongest possible efforts we have made in Pakistan on MAP problem is another. Reports of troop movements in India involving units equipped with MAP are relevant. So is London’s 208 repeated to you.4 Please let us know whether there is more we should do to support UK peacemaking effort. B.K. Nehru saw me and made it clear he wanted more than pull back or stand down of MAP equipment in Rann of Kutch; he wanted us to punish Pakistan by cutting off all aid. Public impression here that India moved to change a status quo in Rann of Kutch, that India refuses to acknowledge that a dispute exists, that India threatens to widen the conflict into other areas and that India is exploiting MAP to blame us for a difficulty with Pakistan. Regards.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 32–1 INDIA–PAK. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted and approved by Rusk. A handwritten notation on the telegram reads “OK/L,” indicating that it was cleared by President Johnson.↩
  2. The arrest of Abdullah on May 8 was reported in telegram 3199 from New Delhi, May 8. (Ibid., POL 29 INDIA)↩
  3. According to an official government spokesman in New Delhi, four people were killed by police in Srinagar in demonstrations protesting the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah. (Telegram 3205 from New Delhi, May 8; ibid., POL 28–8 INDIA)↩
  4. The reference is in error; the telegram has not been further identified.↩