845.24/4–149
The British Ambassador (Franks) to the Secretary of State
No. 164 G4/49/49
Ref: G4/49/49
His Majesty’s Ambassador for the United Kingdom presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honour to invite his attention to the following matter concerning the supply of ammunition to India and Pakistan.
2. The Government of Pakistan wish to purchase from His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom 200,000 rounds of 75 mm. ammunition for the Sherman tanks with which their Armoured Brigade is equipped. The United Kingdom has considerable stocks of this ammunition and is in a position to supply Pakistan’s requirements after meeting all United Kingdom needs and the demands of the Western Union defence organisation. These stocks are all of Lend-Lease origin and the consent of the United States Government is therefore necessary for their shipment.
3. In considering this request from the Government of Pakistan, His Majesty’s Government have had in mind the fact that the Pakistan forces are equipped with weapons of British or American types and at present have to rely entirely on the same sources for all ammunition.
[Page 1697]4. At the time of partition, it was agreed that the stocks of 75 mm. ammunition held in the subcontinent should be divided between India and Pakistan in the proportion of two-thirds to India and one-third to Pakistan. However, the depots in which this ammunition was held were practically all located in India and political, labour and transport difficulties have made the delivery of Pakistan’s share impossible.
5. In these circumstances, Pakistan finds herself with a dangerous deficiency in her defence organisation. Pakistan has considerable military commitments in the defence of the north-west frontier and the control of the tribes in that area. Her requirement of 200,000 rounds is considered to be reasonable in that context alone.
6. His Majesty’s Government have in the past been concerned lest any ammunition supplied to Governments of Pakistan or India might be used in hostilities in Kashmir, a concern which the United States Government have no doubt shared. So far as is known, however, heavy tanks have not been used in Kashmir by Pakistan and, in any case, a cease-fire has now been established there.
7. There is the further consideration that the existing disparity in military strength between the two Dominions has its own dangers. In particular, His Majesty’s Government are concerned that Pakistan should not have cause to turn to Soviet sources of supply for her military requirements. There have already been unconfirmed reports that she is buying in Czechoslovakia, but His Majesty’s Government do not in fact consider that she is likely to apply to Soviet sources except as a last resort in the event of a refusal on the part of the United Kingdom or the United States to meet what she considers to be her legitimate requirements.
8. For the reasons which have been stated above His Majesty’s Government have come to the conclusion that the Pakistan Government’s request is a reasonable one which ought to be met. His Majesty’s Government would therefore be grateful for the agreement of the United States Government to the transfer to Pakistan of up to 200,000 rounds of 75 mm. ammunition of Lend-Lease origin.
9. There is also an outstanding demand on His Majesty’s Government from the Government of India for 50,000 rounds of the same ammunition. This demand has hitherto been refused on the ground that the calculation of the requirements of Western Union countries had not been completed. While, in general, India is in a better position in this matter than Pakistan, having larger stocks of ammunition and facilities for the manufacture of some natures of ammunition, it is felt that it would be extremely difficult to deny to her this small supply if the demands of Pakistan were to be met. It is hoped, therefore, [Page 1698] that the United States Government will be prepared to agree that the Indian request should now be met as well.1
- In a note of June 3, 1949, not printed, the Acting Secretary of State replied to the British Ambassador that the United States agreed to the proposed retransfer (845.24/4–149)↩