Editorial Note
At its 228th meeting on December 9, 1954, the National Security Council reconsidered United States policy toward Afghanistan in the light of increased Soviet pressure on Afghanistan. The President and the National Security Council considered recommendations that eco nomic aid to Afghanistan be increased to a total of $30 million per year to encourage the Government of Afghanistan to resist Soviet pressure and to reach an accommodation with Pakistan over outstanding differences. [Page 1435] The National Security Council decided that a significant increase in United States aid to Afghanistan would create the danger of increased Soviet interest and would do little to facilitate an understanding between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Secretary of State Dulles discounted the possibility and the value of confederation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and President Eisenhower agreed. The NSC decision was recorded in S. Everett Gleason’s memorandum of discussion, drawn up on December 10, page 1147. The revised section of NSC 5409 relating to Afghanistan did reflect the continued desire of the United States to encourage a settlement of the Pushtunistan controversy. The revision of NSC 5409 is printed under cover of a memorandum by James S. Lay, Jr. to the National Security Council, dated December 14, page 1151.