202. Memorandum From Secretary of State Muskie to President Carter1
1. Tarapur. I told Indian Foreign Minister Rao today that our great efforts to win approval of the Tarapur shipments were a reflection of our determination to have strong positive relations with India.2 Rao conveyed Mrs. Gandhi’s appreciation. Mrs. Gandhi had also asked him to stress that she thought it very important that the US and India continue to adhere to the 1963 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and that it remain in force until the stated period has ended.3
I explained to Rao the arrangements we have worked out, in assurances to the Senate, to provide the first shipment immediately and the second shipment when it is needed. Rao said that the second shipment is needed now. He said that because of past delays in shipments, Tarapur has been operating at less than full capacity. I told Rao that I would convey his and Mrs. Gandhi’s position to you. In the meantime, I have asked for a determination as to when the second shipment is really needed. (S)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to India.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 23, Evening Reports (State): 10/80. Secret. Carter initialed at the top of the memorandum.↩
- Telegram 267207 to New Delhi, October 6, summarized Muskie’s October 2 discussion with Rao in New York regarding the shipments of nuclear fuel to Tarapur. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870117–2052)↩
- In his October 2 discussion with Muskie, Rao also stated that “India had received reliable reports that Pakistan was developing a nuclear bomb. Somewhat fuzzily, he drew a connection between this and the need to maintain Indo-U.S. nuclear relations. He reiterated that the Prime Minister urged that everything be done to save the Indo-U.S. agreement.” See footnote 2 above.↩