99. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India1
2155. For Ambassador from the Secretary. Because of the delicate and pressing situation in Viet Nam the President feels strongly that both the Ayub and Shastri visits should be postponed. The President was looking forward to a fruitful talk with Shastri but he thinks it likely that early in June he will be preoccupied with Southeast Asia as [Page 214] well as with the legislative program that is likely to reach a crunch about that time. With these thoughts in mind he is reviewing his entire schedule to see how the load can be lightened. Thus he is planning to postpone a visit from Kenyatta as well as Ayub and Shastri.
In view of the fact that the Ayub visit is scheduled to take place in less than a fortnight the President is sending a letter to Ayub2 that is being repeated to you. If you feel a Presidential letter to Shastri should follow up your initial approach such a letter can be sent.
I hope that you can approach Shastri in such a way as to lead him to feel that a postponement of his visit until fall is in the interests of India. In our view it would not be useful for him to come while the aid bill is pending in spite of the fact that the Indian attitude regarding South Viet Nam has been generally helpful. There are still substantial differences of emphasis between us regarding sensitive issues, including Southeast Asia, and Shastri would almost certainly find it necessary to make statements that could lead to adverse comment in the press and in Congress.
You should also be aware that continuing failure of India and Pakistan to resolve their differences has been picked up and referred to most critically in executive sessions of congressional committees.
I would appreciate it if you would coordinate your appointment with Shastri so that you and Ambassador McConaughy will be going in at approximately the same time. We are anxious to avoid having news of action in one capital reach the other before the appropriate approach has been made. You are of course at liberty to tell Shastri that we are suggesting to Ayub that his visit also be postponed.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 PAK. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Ball, cleared by McGeorge Bundy, and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Karachi.↩
- See Document 100.↩