390. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Message to Prime Minister Nehru Concerning the Forthcoming Second Conference on the Law of the Sea
When you talked with Prime Minister Nehru in New Delhi last December,2 you raised the question of the forthcoming Conference on the Law of the Sea, and said you hoped Mr. Nehru could support our “six and six” formula. Mr. Nehru indicated that he saw no objection but could not commit himself until he had talked with Mr. Sen, the Law Minister.
Since your talk with Mr. Nehru, American officials have discussed the matter with Indian officials on several occasions. The Government of India is shortly to decide, at the Cabinet level, the position it will take at the Conference. Our Embassy in New Delhi reports that it appears doubtful whether this decision will be in support of the compromise proposal put forward by the United States.
It is of vital importance to the United States that the Conference reach agreement on a breadth of territorial sea no greater than six miles, in conformity with our proposal. India’s position at the Conference may have great influence on other Afro-Asian states. I believe that a personal message from you to Mr. Nehru would be the most effective means to influence the Indian Government in this matter. I [Page 749] recommend, therefore, that you send a message to him along the lines of the enclosure, which I submit for your consideration.3
This message, if approved, would be sent by the Department to the Embassy in New Delhi, with instructions for its personal delivery to the Prime Minister, indicating to him we do not intend to make the letter public.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 399.731/2–460. Drafted by Horgan (NEA/SOA) and cleared by Admiral Ward, Hager, Taylor, and NEA.↩
- Documentation on Eisenhower’s visit to India, December 9–14, 1959, is scheduled for publication in volume XV.↩
- Not printed. For text as sent, see infra.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩