208. Telegram From the Embassy in India to the Department of State1
25393. Subj: Poland: Ambassador’s Call on GOI Foreign Minister. Ref: State 320349.2
1. I met with the FM this morning for half an hour and put before him in my own words the instructions contained in reftel. At the close of the meeting I also left with him the non-paper containing reftel’s talking points.
2. Narasimha Rao’s response was very low-keyed. He took note of the concern of my government on the Polish situation, as he had also, he said, that of several other countries. He expected that the GOI would be conveying its perceptions on this problem area, and would seek full discussions, during the Brezhnev visit. He hoped that the situation in Poland would not be allowed to escalate but would instead be resolved in a manner satisfactory to all concerned.
3. The low-key and rather formal nature of Narasimha Rao’s response was to be expected. It is in key both with his temperament and the fact that Mrs. Gandhi is the one who will call the shot on a matter of this importance and sensitivity. I shall try to make the same pitch to her Tuesday3 afternoon during my farewell call, but it may not prove the occasion for a very good hearing.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800579–0766. Confidential; Immediate. Sent for information to Moscow and Warsaw.↩
- Telegram 320349 to New Delhi, December 3, instructed Goheen to meet with “Rao urgently to express US concern over possible Soviet military intervention in Poland.” Goheen was directed to impress upon Rao that India, as a member of the NAM and a friend of the Soviet Union, “has a key role to play in restraining potential Soviet adventurism in Poland.” The telegram directed Goheen to use the following talking points: the Poles should be left free from outside intervention; there would be a strongly adverse international reaction to Soviet intervention in Poland; and Brezhnev’s upcoming visit would be an opportunity to deliver this message.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800577–0967)↩
- December 9. See Document 209.↩