194. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India1
390. For Ambassadors from the Secretary. Deptel 382 to New Delhi repeated 312 to Karachi.2 I have just returned from two and one-half hour session with Senate Appropriations Committee that is considering Aid bill. Sentiment in that Committee and on Hill against continuing not only military but also economic aid to India and Pakistan unless hostilities are halted is even more violent than I had anticipated it would be. There is also talk on Hill of amendments to halt all arms and aid to India and Pakistan outright instead of just suspending it and to condition all further economic assistance on a cessation of fighting.
I am informing you of this situation as it is important that Indian and Pakistani Governments not underestimate extent of Congressional reaction and are aware that continuing hostilities are jeopardizing future aid programs for both countries.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 27 INDIA–PAK. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by MacArthur and approved and initialed by Rusk. Also sent to Karachi as telegram 322.↩
- Telegram 382 to New Delhi, also sent as telegram 312 to Karachi, September 8, instructed the two Embassies to give their host governments the text of the proposed statement by Mahan, noting that it had been approved by the Johnson administration. For a summary of the statement, see footnote 3, Document 190. The Embassies were instructed to make clear that the announced action was not meant as a punishment or threat, but was what U.S. opinion required in a situation of de facto war. The United States could not support the UN appeal for a cease-fire and, at the same time, provide the equipment that might be used to pursue that conflict. (National Archives and Records RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 27 INDIA–PAK)↩