Office of the Historian

221. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India0

Washington, December 8, 1962, 5:44 p.m.

2601. Following presentation Harriman report, Executive Committee of National Security Council established Subcommittee to prepare specific military and political recommendations for the President’s consideration. Members are William Bundy, DOD; Gaud, AID; General Johnson, JCS; Komer, White House, and Talbot, Chairman.

Subcommittee recommendations so far to NSC Executive include:1

1.
NSC should approve continuing program US assistance to India during emergency phase over next 2-3 months within a ceiling of $60 million, exclusive of air defense, but including $22.8 million committed to date.
2.
US target should be to have total cost emergency phase (ceiling of $120 million) shared on as close to a 50-50 basis as possible with UK and Commonwealth together with other nations.
3.
With modifications of scope of required assistance during emergency phase, London agreement remains valid.
4.
US-UK air defense package, under which US would provide radar and UK and Commonwealth would provide manned aircraft, explored, with recommendations to be made later.

Now working on variety of problems which we plan discuss with Ambassadors Galbraith and McConaughy next week. They include: status of Kelly team and ancillary groups in India (privileges, immunities, services, communications and command channels, cost sharing); financial agreement with GOI; coordination of supply and cost sharing with British; increased contribution from Commonwealth and other countries; funding military assistance; and Congressional consultation.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 791.56/12-862. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Schneider, cleared in substance by Komer, and approved by Talbot. Also sent to Karachi and repeated to London.↩
  2. A copy of the December 6 memorandum from the Subcommittee on South Asia to the NSC, which details the recommendations summarized in this telegram, is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 209.↩