197. Editorial Note
On November 14, 1962, the Governments of the United States and India exchanged diplomatic notes, signed in Washington, which established a formal basis for the military assistance which the United States had been providing to India since November 3. The U.S. note, signed by Assistant Secretary of State Phillips Talbot, indicated that the purpose of the assistance was to lend to the defense of India against “outright Chinese aggression.” The only other conditions attached to the offer were that U.S. representatives in India be permitted to observe the use of the military supplies provided and that any excess supplies be returned when no longer needed for the purposes for which they had been supplied. The Indian note, signed by Ambassador B. K. Nehru, confirmed the agreement outlined in the U.S. note. The texts of the notes are printed in Department of State Bulletin, December 3, 1962, page 838.