889.2553/9–952: Telegram
The Chargé in Afghanistan ( Horner ) to the Department of State 1
126. Kef Embtel 1252 rptd info Karachi 19, London 19, Moscow 1 Sept 9.
I have just been [called?] to MFA by First Under Secty3 and filled in on matters discussed reftel. Aziz explained that FonMin, being in Cabinet mtg, unable see me right away but wanted US to have info soonest.
[Page 1450]Aziz said Sov aide-mémoire most serious incident in country’s recent history. When it was first received, GOA inclined to think it might be “lapin”, but subsequent soundings convinced govt Sovs were in dead earnest. Small comite consisting of King, PriMin, FonMin and himself had considered question and had sent firm rebuttal yesterday. However, there was still future course of action to be decided, and this was still under consideration.
Aziz, who was quite emotional, said that for years he has been trying to convince responsible officials in the Dept that Afghan shld not be allowed to “stew in its own juice”. He felt present danger to this country every bit as great as threat to Iran and potentially even greater since, unlike Iran, all natural resources of Afghanistan in north. If Sovs have been rather quiescent up until now, that was only because they had no suitable pretext for interfering. What was Afghan to do? The peoples of the north cld not be left in the “stone age,” seeing but not sharing in the econ progress of their kith and kin across the Amu Daria. It wld be unthinkable for the GOA to accept Sov proffers of technical assistance, since that wld mean Sov assumption of control.
Concluding, Aziz asked me to impress upon Dept extreme gravity with which GOA views this new development (which he had expected sooner or later to come). Afghan considered US her really true friend and counts on us to help Afghan take her place among free and democratic nations of the world. Comment: GOA apparently did not approach us until after reaching decision to rebuff Sov démarche because it did not want us to think we were being blackmailed into position of support. Even now we are asked for nothing other than “Moral Support” (apparently implying greater econ assistance). It is significant, however, that Foreign Minister told Beck that GOA had been moving in direction “Atlantic Powers” and Sov move wld accelerate this trend.