440. Memorandum of Conversation1
THOSE PRESENT
- President Johnson
- Ambassador B.K. Nehru
- L.K. Jha
- Mr. V. Sarabhai
- W.W. Rostow
- Howard Wriggins
After welcome by the President and exchange of pleasantries, L. K. Jha indicated that he had come at the request of the Prime Minister on a visit to the Soviet Union and Washington, to explore the question of security assurances connected with the NPT. The Soviet reply had been positive and he hoped the U.S. too would be able to move ahead.
The President said that he had just received the text2 this morning, that it looked very interesting. From earlier statements, the Indians could know generally how interested we were in this problem; we will have to look at it with care; but we will get right at it. (He asked Mr. Rostow to be sure the staff work was ready for tomorrow’s meeting.)
L.K. Jha said that the Prime Minister also wanted him to thank the President for all his help on so many fronts, including food and economic aid. If he should find it possible to come to New Delhi, the President would receive a very warm welcome.
The President replied that he had enjoyed his earlier visit and learned a great deal, particularly in the countryside, where he saw so much progress being made. Perhaps it would be possible to think about a trip for sometime next year, but he couldn’t make a commitment now for so far ahead. He pointed out that Ambassadors Cooper, Galbraith, [Page 851] and Bunker had all been so well received they had been made converts to India’s cause; perhaps if he went, he would be converted too. L.K. Jha said he hoped that would be so.
The President indicated that he had appointed Ambassador Bunker, whom the Indians had trained, to Vietnam in the hope that some way could be found to end that conflict satisfactorily. Perhaps the Indians, who knew Ambassador Bunker, would now be able to help a bit more. Despite numerous efforts to reach agreement with North Vietnam, none of our many initiatives had elicited Ho’s willingness to talk. No Administration had done more to ease relations with the Soviet Union: Space Treaty, East/West trade; Consular Agreement, etc. We were not rigid on anything except running out on our contracts. What a disordered world it would be if others came to assume the U.S. word was worthless!
The President wanted the Prime Minister to know how much he had enjoyed having her here; he had worried about the painful political steps she had had to go through. But after all both of them were better off than such former leaders as Erhard, Macmillan and Khrushchev. Her country had many friends in the U.S.; he had had trouble getting the support she needed; but in the end, as a result of the Congressional resolution and other steps, things were likely to come out all right.
Everyone who has been out there feels that India is part of our future, and that we are part of theirs. “And so do I,” he said.
In conclusion, the President reiterated his interest in having the Russian text examined with great care and indicated we would be back to them shortly with our reactions.3
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 INDIA. Secret. No drafting information appears on the memorandum, but it apparently was drafted by Wriggins. A typewritten notation on the memorandum indicates it was uncleared. The time of the meeting, held in the Oval Office at the White House, is from the President’s Daily Diary. (Johnson Library)↩
- The undated text of a draft Soviet declaration concerning assurances to non-nuclear nations in the event of aggression by a nuclear power, as conveyed to Washington by Jha, is attached to an April 20 memorandum from Kohler to Rusk. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 INDIA; also available on the Internet, National Security Archive (www.gwu.edu/nsarchive), Electronic Briefing Book No. 6, “India and Pakistan—On the Nuclear Threshold,” Document 14) Secretary Rusk and Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko discussed the Soviet draft on June 23. The memorandum of conversation is printed in Foreign Relations, 1964–1968, vol. XI, Document 198; it is also available on the Internet, National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 6, Document 16.↩
- Jha also met with Secretary of Defense McNamara on April 18. They discussed the need for assurances to India against nuclear threats, U.S. resumption of the sale of “lethal spares” to the subcontinent, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The memorandum of conversation is in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 72 A 2468; also available on the Internet, National Security Archive (www.gwu.edu/nsarchiv), Electronic Briefing Book No. 6, “India and Pakistan—On the Nuclear Threshold,” Document 15.↩