891.03/3–1851: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State
1678. On March 17 Indian Ambassador Radhakrishnan1 asked Embassy officer how Indian wheat legislation was faring in US Congress, and reply was given to effect that while no recent info available, indications at time legislation introduced were favorable. Embassy officer then asked Indian ambassador for his views as to why Soviets had not made gesture towards India in wheat matter. Indian Ambassador did not reply directly to this question but instead stated emphatically that GOI had not and would not approach Soviets for wheat because it was aware of the complications and dangers of “getting mixed up with the Russians in a deal of this kind”. He went on to say India was fighting communism in its own way and cited recent strong anti-Commie statements of Rajagopalichari. He added that India feared some US elements wished destroy communism by military means now and that India’s quest for peace based on probability that all-out war would lead to growth of communism rather than its destruction.
Dept pass Delhi, Karachi, London. Sent Dept 1678; rptd info Delhi 55, Karachi 22, London 299.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Indian Ambassador in the Soviet Union.↩