158. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State1
22529. Subject: Indian Prime Minister’s Response to President’s Letter on Tehran Hostages. Ref: State 296711.2
1. (C–Entire text)
2. MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) D’Souza made available to Embassy afternoon Dec. 10 text of Prime Minister Charan Singh’s response to the President’s letter of November 15 concerning the American Embassy hostages in Tehran. D’Souza said Indian Charge in Washington would probably be delivering cabled text of letter Dec. 10. D’Souza also said that GOI would probably shortly make public the fact of the Prime Minister’s response and indicate the nature of the response.
3. Text of Prime Minister’s letter dated Dec. 8 follows:
Quote Dear Mr. President,
1. I thank you for your letter of November 15.
2. The incident in Tehran involving the detention of American diplomatic personnel in the U.S. Embassy there, and their safety and well being, has caused us such anxiety and concern from the beginning. Attempts to use force of (sic) threat of force against any country’s diplomatic establishment is a matter of universal concern. We share this concern and indeed gave public expression to it on November 30.3
3. If I have taken some time to reply to you, it is because we have been pondering deeply over these problems. To take a high public profile would have been the easiest course; but we do not feel that it would have had the desired effect (sic) and may even have proved counter productive. You must have noted that despite the willingness [Page 420] of our Ambassador in Tehran to participate in a joint demarche, the representatives there of a number of countries could not eventually agree upon its modalities. The need to release the hostages and to follow international convention and rules regarding diplomatic missions has been emphasised by us with the Iranian authorities, with whom we have friendly relations, through diplomatic channels. You will agree that the value and effectiveness of these initiatives are best realised away from the public glare. You may rest assured, Mr. President, that efforts expected of India in keeping with its traditions and principles shall continue.
4. Mr. President, I am fully aware of the heavy pressures under which you personally, and the Government of the United States, are working in these extremely trying circumstances. We can only hope that a peaceful solution to the problem will ultimately emerge.
5. We also note that the U.N. Secretary General is making every effort, with the help and support of the members of the United Nations, to bring about a mutually satisfactory solution. I would like to assure you that we fully support the efforts of the Secretary General.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely, signed Charan Singh. End quote.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, N790009–0750. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis.↩
- Telegram 296711 to New Delhi, November 15, relayed a letter from Carter to Singh, in which Carter urged that “the strongest possible remonstration or action by your own government could be of great benefit in inducing the Iranian authorities to release the American hostages. You may want to consider reducing the number of your official personnel in Tehran as a way to protest the Iranian treatment of persons with diplomatic immunity.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840148–2658) On November 4, 52 American diplomats and civilians were captured in the Embassy in Tehran and held hostage until January 20, 1981.↩
- Telegram 21888 from New Delhi, December 1, quoted an unidentified Indian newspaper’s account of an MEA statement declaring the “‘violation of diplomatic immunities and threats to the safety and life of diplomats is in contravention of international law and conventions.’” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790552–00778)↩