Office of the Historian

351. Letter From the Acting Secretary of State to Senator J. William Fulbright1

Washington, April 29, 1959.

Dear Bill: Thank you for your letter of April 11 about the shipment of jet planes to Pakistan.2

This shipment fulfills a commitment made in late 1954 and did not represent any new or additional emphasis on military as distinct from economic aid to Pakistan. In fact, the delivery of these planes was originally scheduled for a much earlier date but had for a variety of reasons been delayed. We did not feel that a further delay at this time would be compatible with our original commitment to Pakistan.

The publicity attendant on this transfer originated with the Pakistanis and not ourselves. We have sought to avoid any greater publicity since it does create an unfortunate impression of an emphasis where none was involved or intended.

While the question of balance between economic and military assistance to Pakistan is one on which reasonable men might differ, you may be interested in noting from the material submitted to the [Page 713] Foreign Relations Committee in connection with the FY 1960 Mutual Security Program that there has been a shift in emphasis toward the economic over the period FY 1958–FY 1960. If you wish, I and other witnesses who will testify on the program before your Committee will be prepared to deal with this question more extensively.

Sincerely,

Douglas Dillon3
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/4–1159. No classification marking. Drafted in W/MSC and revised by Rountree in NEA. Senator Fulbright was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.↩
  2. This letter, addressed to Herter, refers to the sale of jet planes to Pakistan: “I wish to reiterate that in my judgment it is a mistake to emphasize so much arms aid to Pakistan. I will not bother you with a recitation of my reasons, as we have discussed it before, but I cannot refrain from saying that I hope the Administration will shift the emphasis from military aid to economic aid in places like Pakistan.” (Ibid., 790D.5–MSP/4–1159)↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩