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

420. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts¹

Washington, February 2, 1967, 3:38 p.m.

129901. Subject: Indian Food Aid. Ref: Depcirtel 127928.²

1. Rostow mission presented its report on results of trip to President Johnson January 28.

2. Today President has sent message to Congress reviewing situation and outlining our next steps.³ (See Wireless File for summary.) U.S. will provide two million tons grain under PL–480 for interim allocation. President asked Congress approve U.S. commitment to share fully in international effort and proposed U.S. allocate up to three million tons more provided that it is appropriately matched. President also recommended approval of allocation of $25 million emergency program in drought-stricken areas to be administered by CARE and other voluntary agencies.

3. Presidential message strongly stressed: (a) Self-help—“I am convinced that the War on Hunger can be won only by the determined efforts of the developing nations themselves.” “India must herself take prompt steps to increase her fertilizer investment and production and improve distribution.” (b) Multilateral approach—“We must support the Indian Government’s efforts to enlist the aid of other nations in developing a systematic and international approach to the problems of Indian agriculture.” (c) Coordination through the Aid India Consortium organized under the chairmanship of the IBRD. (d) Additive nature of food aid so that this program will not diminish flow of resources for other development programs. (e) Matching—Additional foodgrain will be allocated “provided it is appropriately matched.”

4. These are all points accepted in principle by countries visited by Rostow mission. Now that USG has laid its cards on table we hope other countries will begin to translate their agreement in principle into action by series of announcements of donations of food, fertilizer, shipping, or added program assistance. You should approach host Government to inform them of Presidential message and leave no doubt that we now expect other countries to do their share.⁴

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 10 INDIA. Secret. Drafted by Mary S. Olmsted (NEA/INC); cleared by Handley, Heck, Deputy Assistant Secretary George S. Springsteen (EUR), O’Neill (USIA/IAN), Hirsch (USIA/IPS/EO), and Wriggins; cleared in draft by Fried, Novak, and Farr; and approved and initialed by Eugene Rostow. Sent to Bonn, Brussels, The Hague, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Vienna, Canberra, and Ottawa and repeated to Cairo for Ambassador Battle, New Delhi, Moscow, and Rawalpindi.
2. Circular telegram 127928, January 30, sent to the same posts as telegram 129901, circulated an interim report on the Rostow mission. (Ibid., POL 7 US/Rostow)
3. For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1967, pp. 757–763.
4. Bowles reported on February 3 that the reaction to the President’s message in India had been excellent. He stated that key Indian leaders deeply appreciated the vote of confidence in their efforts. (Telegram 11129 from New Delhi; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 10 INDIA) On February 6, Congressmen Poage and Dole introduced resolutions in the House of Representatives supporting the President’s message on food assistance for India (House Joint Resolutions 262 and 267), and Senators Miller and Gale McGee introduced a similar resolution in the Senate (Senate Joint Resolution 29).