128. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy0
SUBJECT
- Proposed Message to Prime Minister Macmillan Concerning Possibility of British Offering to India an Alternative to MIG-21’s
The purpose of this memorandum is to request you to authorize the dispatch of the enclosed message1 from you to Prime Minister Macmillan concerning Indian efforts to a acquire Soviet MIG-21’s and the possibility of the British offering an alternative.
The Government of India has decided at the highest level to begin now to acquire a supersonic fighter capability. For this purpose the Indians have looked into the F-104, Super Mystere (French), Lightnings (British), and the MIG-21. The Indians are apparently prepared to go ahead with the MIG-21’s on the basis of the findings of an Indian Mission which has just returned from Moscow. Factors which have led the Indians to this point include political considerations, early availability of the MIG’s, payment in Indian rupees and Soviet promises of assistance in future manufacture in India.
Should the Indians acquire the MIG-21’s, the Indian Air Force would be compelled to build its whole fighter aircraft weapons system, of which the airplane itself is only a part, on the Soviet pattern. This would lead probably to the adoption of Soviet bomber and missile systems as being more compatible with the fighter system than would be equipment from the West. In any event, the assignment of large numbers of Soviet technicians to the Indian Air Force would force a withdrawal of the West from those areas where security is a factor (the British are already faced with this problem), inviting further penetration by the Soviets. To have this possibility occur at this time would be particularly unfortunate since senior, basically Western-oriented officers will be retiring in favor of a generation which lacks the strong tradition of close ties with the West.
Ambassador Galbraith has been assured by Foreign Secretary Desai that a final decision will not be taken for another ten days. We are certain, however, that Krishna Menon will be working on Prime Minister Nehru in the interval to get him to agree to the MIG transaction. He can be [Page 260] expected to bring the Prime Minister to this decision unless a satisfactory Western alternative can be offered.
The provision of F-104’s is not a feasible alternative at the present because (a) we believe such a move would seriously jeopardize our essential interests in Pakistan, (b)in view of Indian attitudes towards our security procedures we cannot readily provide the necessary associated classified equipment, and (c) India’s lack of foreign exchange would make it necessary to provide the equipment under some form of military aid from the United States, a step which would raise major political problems at home and over sea.2
We have examined other possible Western alternatives and have concluded that we should first explore with the British the possibility of their providing Lightnings. The British traditionally have been India’s primary source of modern military equipment. Mr. Ball broached this subject with Lord Hood on Monday.3 It was suggested that we were prepared to explore ways of helping the British meet whatever problems this might create for them.
We have not received a reaction from London. In view of the urgency and seriousness of this matter, I recommend that you under-score the importance which we attach to it by authorizing me to send the enclosed message from you to Prime Minister Macmillan.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 791.5622/6-162. Secret. Drafted by Cameron and Horgan and cleared in BNA by Milton G. Rewinkel. A typed notation on the source text indicates that the enclosed telegram was approved as amended and sent on June 1.↩
- For text of the telegram as sent, see Document 129.↩
- A handwritten note in the margin at this point, in an unknown hand, reads: “a flat decision on this should await results in London.”↩
- A memorandum of Ball’s conversation on May 28 with the Minister of the British Embassy is in Department of State, Central Files, 791.5622/2862.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Rusk signed the original.↩