Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXV, South Asia

313. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson¹

Washington, April 3, 1966, 5 p.m.

We now have first-round reactions to your food message, which our ambassadors have delivered in almost every foreign capital. A spate of local holidays has prevented a number of governments from responding yet, but we have enough answers to form a clear pattern. The sampling you asked to see is attached.²

The most striking aspect of these answers is how many countries are themselves on the emergency list. They draw a graphic picture of the world’s food problem!

Nevertheless your message has been well received. Even some of the marginally poor nations want at least to send India token help. A number of the wealthier ones are cranking up more substantial responses, and some that have already given are considering more.³

To capitalize on this momentum, I have asked State to organize our follow-up. We don’t want any potential donors to slip off the hook. We also need to get the Indians involved in this follow-up. The big danger is that they will sit back and relax, figuring that we have now assumed leadership—something we had insisted they do.

It will still be an uphill job to get others to match our 3.5 million tons of grain, though we may well get more than equivalent dollar value (about $210 million) in other commodities and services.

I will report again later when results are firmer.⁴

Walt

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, NSC History, Indian Famine, August 1966–February 1967, Vol. I. Confidential.
2. Not printed.
3. Rostow added a handwritten marginal notation at the end of the memorandum that reads: “5 considering, 12 giving, 8 token.”
4. President Johnson’s handwritten notation on the memorandum reads: “Walt see me and get Nehru in at once.” At an April 5 meeting at the White House, at which the President, the Vice President, Rusk, McNamara, Rostow, and General Taylor were the principal participants, the issue of food for India was discussed. President Johnson instructed Rusk to meet with Ambassador Nehru and “put the heat on” for help from other countries. (Johnson Library, Office of the President File, Valenti, Jack, Meeting Notes (Typed) 12/21/65–4/6/66) Johnson put pressure on Nehru personally in a telephone conversation on April 5. He ran through the U.S. survey of potential contributors and suggested that Nehru work with Rusk in a joint effort to solicit additional support. (Ibid., Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation Between President Johnson and Ambassador Nehru, April 5, 1966, 4:59 p.m., Tape F66.14, Side A, PNO 1)