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

59. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan⁰

Washington, November 7, 1961, 6:36 p.m.

890. Embtel 829.¹

1. Dept concurs your judgment delivery letter be withheld. Hope had been that Ayub’s response to letter might have enabled Ambassador Merchant inject more positive note into departure statement. Under circumstances this objective obviously not feasible.

2. Question of letter to Ayub will be reviewed with Ambassador Merchant here.

3. Dept welcomes indication (Embtel 829) that Qadir appeared to be bit more forthcoming in last interview particularly on subject of reopening consular offices. This may be one of positive elements on which we can build in future discussions, perhaps even in Presidential letter.

4. Dept has appreciated diligence which Embassies Karachi and Kabul have accorded this problem and particularly your unstinting assistance to Ambassador Merchant. Although his mission lacked successful outcome, we believe it demonstrated clearly USG continuing interest in welfare of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hopefully with this background, USG’s continuing efforts may make some progress in near future in facilitating neighborly relations between these countries both of which we number among our friends.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1590/11-761. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Meyer and Gatch, cleared by Weil and Manfull, and approved by Meyer. Also sent to Kabul.
1. In telegram 829 from Karachi, November 7, Rountree supported Merchant’s conclusion that, in light of the prior release of the departure statement, any subsequent good offices effort should be made through the Embassy. Rountree felt the proposed delivery of a Presidential letter by Merchant would be seen, in the circumstances, as a last minute attempt to force a solution, and would be resented by Ayub and his government as such. (Ibid.)