790D.5 MSP/7–2754
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge, Pakistan-Afghanistan Affairs (Metcalf)
Subject:
- Status of Military Aid Program for Pakistan
Participants:
- Mr. D. J. C. Crawley, First Secretary of British Embassy
- SOA—Mr. Smith
- NEA—Mr. Anschuetz
- SOA—Mr. Metcalf
At his request, Mr. Crawley called to inform himself on the status of the MAP for Pakistan. He expressed particular interest in learning what he could about the categories of matériel to be furnished under the program, with special regard to offshore procurement possibilities affecting the UK. Mr. Anschuetz said that the observations that he would make must be regarded as provisional, since final decisions in many cases have not yet been taken. With that qualification he told Mr. Crawley that the army component of the program, which was the largest one, consisted largely of tanks, vehicles, artillery, light arms, electronic equipment and various categories of ammunition, supplies and maintenance materials. The air force component consisted [Page 1859] of some jet planes and ancillary maintenance equipment and supplies. The navy component consisted mainly of a minesweeper, ship repair facilities and naval stores.
Mr. Anschuetz said that it is the Pentagon’s programming procedure to determine first the total requirements of a given recipient, and then to analyze the requirements with a view to establishing those items that most feasibly could be supplied from the U.S. and those that could be purchased offshore. The desirability of maintaining habitual sources of supply to the extent possible in light of all the circumstances is very much in the minds of the Pentagon authorities. With reference to the Pakistan program it is our present thinking that the tanks and aircraft would come from American sources, that certain electronic equipment and a substantial part of the naval items would come from UK sources, and that the source of other items was still under study. Mr. Anschuetz pointed out that more positive information would probably be made available at an early scheduled meeting between Pentagon authorities and an appropriate British military officer in Washington.
Mr. Crawley observed that his people would be sad to learn about the supply source of aircraft; also the UK had offered to supply the Pakistanis on previous occasions with Centurion tanks. Regarding tanks, Mr. Anschuetz reminded Mr. Crawley that Pakistan has purchased over 300 American Sherman tanks in this country and that maintenance and replacement problems dictate the continued reliance on the present source. As for aircraft, Mr. Anschuetz made two observations. First, the Pakistanis have indicated an express preference for American jets, an expression which has affected our thinking in the matter. Secondly, since virtually all Pakistan air force planes are or will shortly be obsolescent the advantages of retaining present sources of supply for logistical reasons do not exist.
Mr. Crawley acknowledged appreciation of these considerations.
- This memorandum of conversation was prepared on July 30.↩