416. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State1
10326. Pass White House. From Rostow and Schnittker.
1. At meetings today with Chaudhuri, Subramaniam, Mehta and ranking civil servants: 1. The Indian Government confirmed that it fully concurs in our approach to the solution of the Indian emergency food problem for this calendar year and succeeding years. It has instructed its Embassies in the capitals we shall visit to make appropriate representations. 2. FinMin Chaudhuri conveyed an expression of regret from the Prime Minister who was unavoidably out of town campaigning. Chaudhuri indicated her great appreciation for the President’s letter2 and for the effort the President has undertaken in India’s behalf, and Chaudhuri expressed his own appreciation of the President’s interest. 3. We discussed whether we should aim for a single consortium meeting, or two meetings, one devoted to food and the other to the broader program of economic assistance. The merits of these alternatives might be explored during the week with the staff of the IBRD. We explained that this was a question we would keep in mind during our remaining consultations. 4. A fuller list of detailed points raised will be reported later by Embassy.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 10 INDIA. Secret; Exdis. Passed to the White House at 10:55 a.m. Rostow’s party included Heck, Schnittker and Martin Abel from Agriculture, and Walter G. Farr of AID/NESA.↩
- See Document 415.↩