Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–7, Documents on South Asia, 1969–1972

103. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco) to Acting Secretary of State Irwin¹ ²

Washington, December 3, 1970

SUBJECT:

• India Keeps the Lid on the Arms Debate—INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

The Government of India has apparently decided to keep the lid on its criticism of our arms decision for Pakistan and to prevent it from escalating into a major crisis in our relations. Although Indian officials continue to be privately critical of our decision and skeptical about the rationale behind it, they have not attempted to stir up public controversy beyond that generated in the Parliamentary debate early in November.

We had expected that the Parliamentary session, which began on November 9, would generate a certain amount of hysterical criticism of the United States from all shades in the Indian political spectrum. In the event, although there were debates in both houses of Parliament, criticism was relatively muted, and considerable attention was also given to Soviet arms sales to Pakistan. The Embassy has reported that the arms issue is unlikely to surface in Parliament again unless there is a general foreign policy debate, which is not now expected. Discussion of the decision continues in the press but mainly in analytical pieces questioning our explanations of our decision. Journalists and officials alike remain skeptical that we can achieve our stated purposes through such a limited sale.

The Indians now seem disposed to accept the assurances which the Secretary gave to Mrs. Gandhi of our desire not to let this issue affect the basic nature of our relations. They remain skeptical, however, that we will in fact limit ourselves to a single sale.

Increasingly the Indians are looking towards the bilateral talks as a way of repairing the damage done to our relations in recent months. The attached telegram from New Delhi reports some of the recent signs of the Indian desire to put our relations back on the rails again.

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA/INS Files: Lot 74 D 17, India 1970, DEF 19, October Decision. Confidential. Drafted by Quainton and cleared by Schneider and Van Hollen. Attached but not published was telegram 14902 from New Delhi, November 27.
2. Sisco informed Irwin that the Indian Government had apparently decided to damp down its criticism of the U.S. decision to supply additional arms to Pakistan. He added that the Indians seemed inclined to try to repair the damage done to relations between the United States and India in recent months.