Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XIX, South Asia

303. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom⁰

Washington, May 29, 1963, 8:23 p.m.

6401. Eyes Only for Ambassadors. Following is text of message from Prime Minister Macmillan received by the President.

“May 29, 1963.

Dear Friend,

We had another long discussion in Cabinet yesterday about air defence of India. The Cabinet were still worried about a military commitment to defending India for the reasons which I explained in my message of May 15.¹

However my colleagues were much relieved at the way in which you restated your position in your message to me of May 23.² It was also very helpful to have the account which you kindly sent about your Government’s discussions in Washington with Krishnamachari.³ The Cabinet also had very much in mind the importance of keeping in step with you on this great issue. They felt that the position was much clearer than it had been and that we ought to be able to get the advantages of the joint exercises with the Indians without the dangers which we had foreseen.

I was able to persuade my colleagues that the plan which you put forward in your message of May 23, for occasional visits to India by two fighter squadrons, one American and one British, with the radar and ground equipment provided by you, would serve a useful purpose without involving us in dangerous commitments for the future. If such exercises can be planned with some Indian participation, our visits could indeed be of real value not only in familiarising our own squadrons with the terrain but also in increasing India’s air defence capacity.

Naturally such training arrangements with the Indians would not escape the notice of the Chinese. But as you recognised in your last message I think that this effect will result from the facts and need not be underlined by any public statement. Equally Indian acceptance of and participation in these training exercises would in itself indicate a significant and desirable shift in India’s traditional policy of non-alignment; but in the present state of Indian opinion I do not think they would like this aspect to be too much emphasised. We think therefore that it would be wise in any public statement which we may ultimately have to make about joint air training exercises in India not to give any indication of any more far-reaching purpose. I trust that you will be able to agree to this method of presentation.

The Cabinet have authorised the Commonwealth Secretary to speak to Krishnamachari about air defence on the basis that joint exercises by British and U.S. fighter squadrons might be possible without any commitment to come to India’s assistance in the event of further Chinese attacks. They also agreed that we should now make detailed plans with your staff for these periodical exercises in India. Perhaps you would let us know what you think would be the most practical way of making these detailed plans.

I am so glad that we seem to have found the right answer to this problem.

I am sure that our co-operation in this field can be very important for the future.

With warm regard,

Harold Macmillan”

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 1-4 INDIA. Secret. Drafted in S/S by Grant G. Hilliker, cleared by McGeorge Bundy, and approved by Hilliker. Repeated to Karachi and New Delhi.
1. See Document 296.
2. The text of this message, in which Kennedy reported on his discussion with Krishnamachari and argued again for proceeding with the proposed U.S.-U.K. air defense program for India, was transmitted to London in telegram 6250, May 23. (Department of State, S/S Files: Lot 66 D 204, Kennedy Correspondence with Macmillan, 1962-63)
3. A summary of the Krishnamachari visit to Washington was sent to London in telegram 6295, May 24, with instructions to convey a copy to the British Government. (Ibid., Central Files, DEF 19-3 US-INDIA)