233. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Hare) to Secretary of State Rusk1
SUBJECT
- Indian Criticism of the United States Since the Cease-fire: The Question of PL 480 Wheat
Since the cease-fire there has been a steady obbligato of criticism of the United States in the Indian press, based largely on variations on the theme that we are showing partiality to Pakistan (the most recent was Defense Minister Chavan’s Bombay speech yesterday). Not all comments on the U.S. have been critical, however, and on the whole we are being let off much lighter than, say, our British colleagues.
The main exception to this generalization is the recent uproar over alleged U.S. intention to use PL 480 wheat as a lever to extract concessions on Kashmir. It began with a public statement by the Prime Minister on September 26, in which he reportedly warned the great powers not to pressure India for concessions on Kashmir. He said “India may even have to face food shortages in case some countries stop food exports to India.” Mrs. Gandhi on the 27th told a Jammu audience that India must be prepared to get along without aid rather [Page 444] than give in to pressure. These sentiments were fanned by reports from Washington correspondents of Indian newspapers following our September 29 signing of a one month PL 480 extension. The rest of the press picked up the theme rapidly and vigorously. The latest statement by an Indian official is Planning Chief Ashoke Mehta’s on October 1 in which he warned against the use of aid, including food supplies, to exert pressure on India. He said that India has “alternate plans ready to go ahead without such aid.”
During the last couple of days the issue has died down somewhat, perhaps the delayed effect of a statement on September 30 by an official GOI spokesman denying that short-term food agreements were meant as political pressure.
In effect, India’s leaders have declared that India will tighten its belt and go it alone rather than trade concessions on Kashmir for American wheat. The Indian press has vigorously supported this position.2
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, AID (US) 15–8 INDIA. Secret. Drafted by Carleton S. Coon, Jr.↩
- In telegram 636 to New Delhi, October 6, the Department expressed concern over statements by Indian leaders implying that the United States was using P.L. 480 wheat as a lever to extract concessions on Kashmir. The Embassy was instructed to make clear that the United States was not using food for political leverage. (Ibid., AID (US) 15 INDIA)↩