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

523. Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State¹

Rawalpindi, November 7, 1968, 1210Z.

9165. Literally eyes only for President Johnson from Ambassador.

1. In any change of administration time is required for the identification and analysis of problems and for the decision making process.

2. With a change of parties this process will take longer than usual and will be complicated by the fact that the Executive and the Congress will be of different parties.

3. I seriously doubt that we can stem the tide here of drift toward reliance on the Communist world for the time required without the encouragement of a few tanks.

4. Mr. President, on last December 23 you told Ayub and me that you were sick and tired of the India lovers in the State Department.

5. I am too.

6. In the intervening months they have resorted to every excuse, every delay, every strategem to thwart your wishes with respect to tanks for Pakistan.

7. I pray you not to let them get away with it.

8. In the immortal words of John Nance Garner, Mr. President, “Let’s strike a blow for freedom.”

9. Alice joins me in thanking you for the opportunity of service to our country and to you personally which you have given us and we extend our affection to you and Lady Bird. We expect to follow you into private life shortly after January 20 and will look forward to the privilege of enjoying your company both in Palm Beach and on the shores of the Pedernales.²

Oehlert

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Pakistan, Vol. IX, Memos, 5/68–11/68. Top Secret; Cherokee. The Cherokee communications channel was established on November 5 for the exchange of literally eyes only messages between the Secretary and an Ambassador. (Circular telegram 267318 to all Embassies, November 5; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 12 CHEROKEE)
2. A typewritten note attached to the telegram, dictated by President Johnson on November 7 reads: “Write Oehlert a good, strong wire and tell him I am really doing what he wants done.” Rostow did so on November 7 in an eyes only cable to Oehlert in which he called attention to telegram 268175 to Ankara. (White House telegram CAP 82740 to Rawalpindi; Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Pakistan, Vol. IX, Memos, 5/68–11/68) Telegram 268175 to Ankara, November 7, instructed the Embassy to reiterate continuing high-level U.S. interest in the sale of M–47 tanks by Turkey to Pakistan, and the urgent need for a response. If necessary the Embassy was authorized to indicate that the United States was prepared to make available to Turkey 100 rehabilitated M–48 tanks to replace 100 M–47 tanks sold to Pakistan. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 12–5 PAK)