Office of the Historian

427. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India1

Washington, March 22, 1967, 3:43 p.m.

160135. Eyes Only for the Ambassador from the Secretary. Just a personal comment on the occasion of the passage of the India Food Bill. It now becomes extremely important for India herself to put on a major diplomatic effort to mobilize resources from other governments. Although we shall try to be helpful, India must take the primary responsibility. Quite frankly, our own political capital is running out where we go soliciting other governments for financial help for somebody else. Further, India should discover for herself where the responsibility will lie if President Johnson’s courageous action should fail to produce the necessary resources. It would be helpful if you could keep us closely informed as to the progress of India’s diplomatic effort so that we can coordinate our own desire to be helpful.2

Personal regards.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 10 INDIA. Secret; Exdis. Drafted and approved by Rusk and cleared by Handley. A marginal notation reads: “OK/L,” suggesting that the cable was cleared by the President.↩
  2. On March 23 Bowles reported that he had met with Subramaniam’s successor Jagjivan Ram to discuss the food crisis. In the course of the conversation, Bowles stressed the importance of a vigorous diplomatic initiative by India to solicit contributions from other nations to match the food being contributed by the United States. (Telegram 13819 from New Delhi; ibid., POL 15–1 INDIA)↩