Office of the Historian

033.1100 NI/12–1553: Telegram

The Ambassador in Afghanistan (Ward) to the Department of State

confidential
Kabul, December 15, 1953—noon.

210. Deptel 146, December 9.1 Vice President and Mrs. Nixon made excellent impression on GOA officials and Afghan people by ease, charm of manner and directness. GOA and Afghan people greatly pleased at visit particularly after inability Secretary and FOA Director Stassen visit Afghanistan.

Vice President and I conferred at length with Prime Minister and both Deputy Prime Ministers. No direct mention made size FOA aid allotted Afghanistan, Export-Import loan or alleged US–Pakistan military discussions. Only substantial points raised were (a) Afghan need outside assistance for economic, educational and social development; (b) Pushtunistan question. No inference GOA will turn to USSR should US aid not be forthcoming. Vice President [on] Pushtunistan followed recommendations Deptel 139, December 4 [3]. Firm reiteration by Vice President US unwillingness become involved Pushtunistan dispute should convince GOA (1) impossibility use US as mediator and (2) desirability direct negotiations with Pakistan.

Although Vice President and I dined with King, am uninformed nature Vice President’s pre and post-dinner talks with him.2

Detailed report being pouched.3

Ward
  1. In telegram 146 to Kabul, Dec. 9, the Department asked for a report on Nixon’s visit to Afghanistan. (033.1100 NI/12–953)↩

  2. Nixon’s report to the National Security Council on his trip included the following paragraph:

    “I feel that Afghanistan will stand up against the Communists. I discussed the Pakistan aid problem with the Prime Minister and the King, who suggested that it would be a good idea if Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Turkey entered into something like an ‘Atlantic alliance’, with aid going to these countries as a group instead of individually where they might be a threat to each other. The Pakistanis had the opposite view.” (Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file, discussion at the 177th meeting of the National Security Council, Dec. 23, 1953)

    ↩
  3. Despatch 110 from Kabul, Dec. 10, was originally filed at 033.1100 NI/12–1553. Not found in Department of State files.↩