Office of the Historian

61. Letter From Secretary of Defense McNamara to Secretary of State Rusk1

Washington, July 2, 1964.

Dear Dean:

I agree with the proposal for an air defense package for India as set forth in your letter of June 17, 1964,2 with the exception that I think [Page 131] we should limit the number of F–5 or F–104G aircraft which we offer to India to a total of 24 aircraft. These aircraft would presumably be supplied to India primarily on a credit sales basis. I think we should maintain a balance between the high performance aircraft offered to India and those offered to Pakistan, and accordingly the present 12 F–104A/B’s in Pakistan should be augmented by not more than an additional 12 F–104’s through grant aid, bringing Pakistan’s total of F–104 aircraft to 24.

I believe we should make every effort to limit the Indians to the acquisition of about a dozen MIG-21’s rather than permitting them to go to two dozen aircraft. I think our package, with the offer of up to 72 F–6 aircraft and support for the HF–24 included, is sufficiently attractive to warrant a firm U.S. position in limiting the Indians to the smallest number of MIG’s possible. I would like to emphasize that any agreement with respect to our assistance in connection with the HF–24 should be limited at this stage solely to technical assistance.

Sincerely,

Bob
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19–8 US–INDIA. Secret.↩
  2. Document 58.↩