Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, South Asia, Volume VIII

57. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Ambassador to India (Bunker), Department of State, Washington, June 4, 1957¹

Washington, June 4, 1957

SUBJECT

• Visit of Ambassador Lodge to India; Prime Minister Nehru’s Visit to the United States

The Secretary said that he had received a letter from Ambassador Lodge stating that the Ambassador had been urged by Mr. Krishna Menon to make a visit to India.² The Secretary asked if such a visit would embarrass Ambassador Bunker. Ambassador Lodge had stated in his letter that he would plan to visit Pakistan also.

Ambassador Bunker replied that a visit by Ambassador Lodge would not be embarrassing to him. He thought that such a visit might be helpful. Mr. Krishna Menon was a strange person. He had done a beautiful job in briefing the War College group which had recently visited India. He had answered all the questions of the group in a reasonable and friendly manner. The War College group had been pleased with its trip to India and thought that India should be included in all future itineraries of the War College.

Ambassador Bunker said that Prime Minister Nehru had sent his regards to the Secretary. The Indians still were critical towards a number of United States policies, including Kashmir and regional security pacts. He thought, however, that the visit of Prime Minister Nehru to the US had been helpful and had resulted in a better understanding by the Prime Minister of basic US policies.

The Secretary replied that we had also obtained a clearer understanding of Indian policy and thinking as a result of the visit. The world was now in the process of evolving an effective collective security system. A comparison might be made between the efforts now being made to develop a security system and a man’s efforts to protect his own home. Previously he had to depend upon his own resources; now he depended upon a police force for protection. The Secretary appreciated the fact that to Pakistan the problem of India loomed larger than that of the Soviet Union. He also understood the Indian fear that military equipment furnished Pakistan by the US might be misused. He himself, however, thought it unlikely that misuse of the equipment would occur. There was the danger of a cyclone of events resulting in a situation so confused that it would be difficult to determine who was the aggressor and who was aggressed against. He could understand how India would like to see Pakistan in a state of military inferiority to it. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Nehru should understand our motives and philosophy.

Ambassador Bunker replied that he thought Prime Minister Nehru did understand. At least he understood better than anyone else in India.

1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Jones.
2. This letter from Lodge has not been found in Department of State files; it is summarized, however, in a memorandum from Wilcox to Dulles, July 5, 1957. (Ibid., IO Files: Lot 60 D 113, Ambassador Lodge)