219. Telegram From the Ambassador to India (Bowles) to Robert Komer of the National Security Council Staff1
Appreciate your cable2 and also what I believe to be skillful Washington handling of extraordinarily complex situation which, although full of dangers, may offer certain opportunities for USG to promote its long-term interests in this area.
In regard to food situation I believe it is difficult for anyone not actually on ground fully to comprehend risks involved in further delay in authorizing shipments.
Right now 40 million Indians, most of them low income people living in large cities, are wholly dependent upon US foodgrains. In Calcutta in order to spread dwindling supplies daily rations have already been cut from twelve ounces to ten ounces. Inevitably story is spreading that this has been due to US decision to put squeeze on Indian people to force them to give in to Paks.
GOI and ourselves are doing everything possible to keep situation under wraps. However foreign and US press as well as Indian press are becoming aware that USG is stalling and serious gap in foodgrain supplies will soon result. Question has become not “Will this situation blow up?” but “How soon?”
When it does, impact here would constitute extremely serious blow to US influence at moment of great opportunity. Image in world press as well as in India of USG loaded with wheat putting squeeze on 40 million Indian slum dwellers in order to bring pressure to bear on Indian Govt which is faced with potential two-front war (while shipments continue to Pakistan) would be profoundly harmful; Communists will have a field day.
[Page 421]Very least we should do is to tell Indian Govt, hopefully within next 24–48 hours, that we are providing one million tons of grain and that we will do everything in our power to see that there is no break in arrival of food ships which now are scheduled to run out in late Oct. This arrangement does not have to be highly publicized. GOI would see advantage in treating it as routine matter.
Many thanks for all you have done and are doing.