Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970

56. Memorandum From the Chief of Naval Operations (Zumwalt) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer)¹

Washington, April 17, 1971.

SUBJ

• US naval presence in the Indian Ocean (U)

OP–61/maw Ser 00481P61

1. (C) Recently the US Ambassador to Ceylon, Robert Strausz-Hupe called on me, and the Ambassador to the Malagasy Republic, Anthony D. Marshall visited Under Secretary of the Navy Warner.² Each of the two ambassadors spoke at length concerning US presence and the desirability of US ship visits to Indian Ocean ports. I believe you may find the essential points of their discussions useful in your meeting on 20 April with the Senior Review Group concerning NSSM 110.³

2. (S) Ambassador Strausz-Hupe believes the USSR is augmenting its naval strength in the Indian Ocean to gain greater influence in the region. The Soviet Navy is a highly visible force in the Indian Ocean and has sought this visibility by the deployment of modern, major combatants. By way of contrast, the US Navy is not very visible and not impressive, i.e., three old ships assigned to the Middle East Force. The Ambassador favors an increased presence of impressive naval forces similar to the nuclear task force cruise of 1964. He believes a show of US naval strength in the Indian Ocean is necessary to counter the Soviet presence.

3. (S) Ambassador Marshall believes that increased US naval presence now in the Indian Ocean could obviate the need for greater military forces at some future time. He favors increased ship visits, particularly of modern ships and submarines, including nuclear propelled vessels. He further believes that we should assign a resident naval attaché to the Malagasy Republic, and recommends a US initiative for closer liaison with the Government of France in Indian Ocean matters and greater US utilization of the French Navy base at Diego Suarez.

4. (C) Unfortunately, these views are not universally held by Department of State officials.

E. R. Zumwalt

1. Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of Admiral Thomas Moorer, Box 113, Work File (Indian Ocean). Secret.
2. Under Secretary of the Navy Richard E. Warner. Saunders detailed Strausz-Hupé’s views on the Indian Ocean in an October 15 memorandum to Kissinger. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 592, Country Files, Middle East, Ceylon, Vol. I) On July 8, 1970, the Ambassador had written to David Schneider, Country Director for Ceylon, outlining great power maneuverings in the Indian Ocean and possible U.S. policies. (Ibid.)
3. The meeting took place on April 22. See Document 58. A memorandum prepared for Moorer’s use at the meeting stated that “certain forces are at work within the NSC Staff that could lead to serious restrictions on the use of the sea—in the theological format of arms control.” The paper noted that only Defense and JCS were opposed to the initiation of an arms control study, and that a “hard and persuasive line will be necessary to prevent the preparation of this potentially damaging study.” (Memorandum from R.C. Robinson to Moorer, April 20; National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Records of Admiral Thomas Moorer, Box 113, Work File (Indian Ocean))