Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–8, Documents on South Asia, 1973–1976

206. Telegram 9570 From the Embassy in India to the Department of State¹ ²

New Delhi, July 16, 1975, 0548Z.

Subject:

• Ambassador’s Meeting With Foreign Secretary

Ref:

• A) New Delhi 9254B
• B) Secto 06005

1. Ambassador met with FonSec Kewal Singh July 15. He conveyed Secretary’s reply to FonMin Chavan on India’s Security Council seat approach, and expressed US concern over efforts by irresponsible elements in India to blame all India’s problems on the CIA.

2. Ambassador emphasized he had inquired personally since his arrival in India into whether there were any CIA activities directed at Indian internal affairs, and offered Kewal Singh his personal assurance there were none. Ambassador observed that when accusations or comments by senior Indian officials and newspapers appeared alleging US interference in Indian domestic affairs, they appeared to have formal GOI approval, particularly since censorship was in effect on the press and radio. He emphasized the US had kept out of present internal Indian problems and would continue to keep out. So far as US press comments were concerned, the USG couldn’t control press accusations and allegations about the US Government much less about any foreign governments. Ambassador observed that the essential USG position was that we wished to have friendly relations with India and that the Embassy wished both India and its Prime Minister well. He emphasized, however, the need for constant vigilance to ensure that irresponsible elements (mentioning Congress President Barooah as becoming rather emotional on the subject of the US on some occasions) were not able to damage Indo-US relations. He reiterated the assurance that the USG would take prompt action if any persons under USG control were discovered interfering in the domestic politics of India.

3. The Foreign Secretary expressed his great appreciation for the efforts of the USG to see that nothing was done or said of embarrassment to India while the GOI was going through its present difficult times. The GOI needed US understanding of the need on the part of the Indian Government to take certain unpleasant, difficult measures which it was hoped would only be very temporary. He said the GOI was absolutely sure that Indo-US relations were of the greatest importance and wanted to make sure that these would be worked out. He emphasized that the GOI was conscious of the fact that nothing should be said or done which would hurt Indo-US relations. Some things did slip through the censors and this could not always be avoided, but other things had been picked in time which would have been very bad had they not been caught. The Foreign Secretary noted continuing problems with some foreign news stories, mentioning specifically Post correspondent Lewis Simons’ “vicious” attacks on the Prime Minister.

4. The Ambassador offered the final suggestion that political attacks in India on some bilateral or international projects with US involvement, such as that on mosquito breeding which had caused the US to withdraw its support of the project last month, had to be averted through closer coordination between govts on such projects. It would be necessary for the Indian Foreign Ministry to ensure that arrangements for such projects were fully coordinated and approved in the future as to provide better protection for our bilateral relations.

5. The Foreign Secretary said he agreed fully and that he had already given instructions that greater efforts toward this end should be made to see that there was no room for mischief on such issues.

6. Comment: I decided to make our points in a softer key than the letter I had sent to FonMin Chavan last week, with the thought in mind that a little honey might catch more flies than another dose of vinegar at this point. Kewal Singh appeared rather relieved at this change of pace and was conspicuously effusive in assuring me that Indo-US relations were at the top of his agenda. I’m not sure how much this will contribute to halting criticisms and attacks on the US by at least some senior Indian politicians. Despite the new authoritarian pitch of the Indian political scene, there are still a lot of cracks through which irresponsible remarks can slip. But I strongly suspect our general point will be passed promptly to the Foreign Minister and I suspect the Prime Minister as well, and perhaps something will get done, particularly combined with the reportedly generally positive flavor of the congressional aid hearings yesterday.

Saxbe

1. Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Middle East and South Asia, Box 12, India, State Telegrams to the SecState EXDIS (2). Confidential; Exdis.
2. The Embassy summarized Ambassador Saxbe’s meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Kewal Singh on recent attacks on the United States in the Indian press and rumors of U.S. covert activity in Indian internal affairs.