356. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Message from Secretary Freeman on East Pakistan’s Food Problems
Attached is an interesting message from Secretary Freeman.2
The Pakistanis are having problems with food prices in East Pakistan. Drought has cut production about 5% and there is a price push because food stocks are lower than usual at this time of year, the opposition is badgering the Government, and the administration has [Page 695] not handled what stocks it has on hand to best advantage. Ayub has brought the price pressure to Freeman’s attention, and they have discussed the possibility of diverting to East Pakistan several ships waiting to unload at Indian ports.
Our specialists in Agriculture are hard at work reviewing the figures to see what East Pakistan’s real needs are. They are also looking into the logistical problems of diverting ships from Indian to East Pakistani ports. State is for it as a helpful political gesture.
Freeman would like to explore the matter further, which is fine. He also asks authority to make a prompt announcement of whatever agreement he reaches after discussions with the Indians. In our view this is premature. The politics of Indo-Pak relations are so tricky that nothing must be said until we are sure it is feasible; and if they can work it out, it may be better to have the Indians and the Pakistanis make their own announcement, without our being publicly engaged. State has therefore told him to explore the matter, but to make no public announcement until further clarification.
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Pakistan, Vol. VI, 1/66–9/66. Secret. A handwritten “L” on the memorandum indicates it was seen by the President.↩
- A retyped copy of telegram 221 from Karachi, July 11, was attached to the memorandum. The telegram, sent eyes only for the President from the Secretary of Agriculture, is ibid. In telegram 221 Freeman reported on his July 11 conversation with Ayub in which they discussed agricultural developments in Pakistan and prospects for a new P.L. 480 agreement in addition to the East Pakistan discussion summarized by Rostow. Freeman arrived in Pakistan on April 11 for a 3-day visit. That visit was followed by a 2-day visit to Afghanistan and a 3-day visit to India. The Embassy in Rawalpindi reported on what it saw as a successful visit by Freeman to Pakistan in telegram 167, July 16. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, ORG 7 AGR) The Embassy in New Delhi offered a similar assessment of Freeman’s visit to India in telegram 1155, July 22. (Ibid.)↩