125.0045/35
The British Ambassador (Halifax) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
My Dear Welles: I am writing to confirm our conversation on 26th June when I told you that the Government of India gladly agree to the proposal made by the State Department that a member of the United States Foreign Service should reside at Delhi or Simla. The Government of India would prefer that this officer should have the title of Agent General, rather than that of Commissioner or of Diplomatic Agent as suggested in the Department’s note of 28th May, since owing to the constitutional position the reception of a Diplomatic Minister in India, or the establishment of direct diplomatic representation between India and the United States is not possible at this time. The Government of India also suggests that in order to avoid embarrassment with other countries it would be preferable not to make any reference to the officer’s personal rank in announcing his appointment.
[Page 172]- 2.
- The Government of India suggests that the appointment of a United States Agent General at Delhi and of an Indian Agent General at Washington might in due course be embodied in the draft Treaty now under consideration.1 They will, however, be glad to receive the United States Agent General forthwith in advance of the conclusion of the Treaty negotiations, and suggest that the two appointments should be announced simultaneously and as being reciprocal in character.
- 3.
- The Government of India hope that the United States Consulate General at Calcutta will continue to be maintained, in addition to the new office at Delhi.
- 4.
- The Government of India are anxious to appoint as their Agent General in the United States Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, K. B. E., C. I. E. He is aged 50, is a member of the Indian Civil Service and a member of the Governor-General’s Executive Council. I should be very grateful if you will let me know whether this appointment would be acceptable to the United States Government.
V. sincerely