80. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Indian Ambassador (Chagla), Department of State, Washington, August 25, 19591
SUBJECT
- Military Aid to Pakistan
The Ambassador noted that relations between his country and Pakistan had seemed to improve considerably over the past several months. The only remaining “fly in the ointment” according to him was American military aid to Pakistan. He realized, as did his Government, that the United States had been giving this aid in completely good faith, but neither he nor his Government were so certain that it was being received in the same good faith by the Government of Pakistan. For instance, the Government of India understood that the United States had given amphibious vehicles to Pakistan which could not possibly be required for defense against international communism.
The Secretary replied that as far as he knew, no amphibious vehicles have been given by the United States to Pakistan and asked Mr. Bartlett what he knew of that matter. Mr. Bartlett confirmed the Secretary’s statement, indicating that this subject had been carefully looked into by the Department. Mr. Bartlett wondered whether possibly the Government of India might have confused some small river patrol boats which had been given to Pakistan principally for internal security purposes, for amphibious craft. The Ambassador insisted that this was not the case. Again, Ambassador Chagla said, he wanted to stress that the Government of India had complete faith in the United States objectives regarding its military aid to Pakistan, but that his Government believed Pakistan in requesting and receiving it had “arrières pensées”.
Frankly, the Secretary said, if Ayub and Nehru could agree to an armaments reduction between them, we would be most happy. Did he mean, the Ambassador queried, that, if India would reduce its armaments, the United States would reduce its military aid to Pakistan? The Secretary replied that he would not like to see it put in that way because in such a context the question implied that our arms were being given to Pakistan for purposes having to do with India.
In any event, the Ambassador concluded, the Government of India would be willing to reduce its armaments if United States military aid to Pakistan were reduced. In the present state of good relations between the United States and India, it would be “monstrous” to [Page 185] think that the United States was giving military aid to Pakistan for any purpose other than the declared one.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/8–2559. Confidential. Drafted by Bartlett.↩
- In a letter to Indian Chargé D. N. Chatterjee, dated September 21, Deputy Assistant Secretary Parker T. Hart confirmed that the United States had never supplied amphibious vehicles to Pakistan. “In view of the above,” Hart continued, “we can only conclude that the reports received by you regarding these vehicles must be in error. It is my hope that the categorical assurances given herein will set your mind at rest on this matter and that you will convey this information to your Government at your earliest convenience.” (Ibid., 790D.5621/9–2159)↩