244. Notes by Director of Central Intelligence McCone0
NOTES ON REMARKS BEFORE THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
I will start by reviewing areas of policy which will be before us in the coming months and indicate the general attitude which I have toward them and to emphasize where we might put our emphasis in the next few months.
[Here follow remarks unrelated to South Asia.]
Regarding our attitude toward the neutrals. There is criticism about our lack of difference between the Allies and the neutrals. The Pakistanis are critical, but we must recognize the importance of the Indians. If they joined the Chinese we would have no free South Asia. The Pakistanis are struggling against the Indians and the Afghanistans. They will use or attempt to exploit our power. Our interest is to make a strong sub-continent. We will use the country that can help further that aim. We have used India lately. We do not like their present leadership, but we can use them. While doing this we have moved away from the Pakistanis and they are moving closer to the Chinese and against the Indians. We have not been able to persuade the Pakistanis or the Afghanistans to change their policy on India. These forces were there long before we came on the scene and we cannot do much about it—we cannot settle all the disputes, but we want to keep them free from the Communists. We cannot permit those who call themselves neutrals to be completely taken into the Communist camp. We must keep our ties with Nassir and others, even though we do not like the leaders themselves.
[Here follow remarks unrelated to South Asia.]
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 80 B 01285A, Box 6, McCone Files, DCI Meetings with the President, 1 January-31 March 1963. Top Secret. According to the President’s Daily Appointment Book, the NSC meeting was held from 11 to 11:50 a.m.↩