77. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

[Omitted here is material unrelated to India.]

3. India: Regarding your comment on Warren Christopher’s May 31 evening report on the Indian nuclear question,2 I believe we ought to reply to Desai and tell him we welcome the assurances which he conveyed to Bob Goheen on IAEA safeguards, non-use of U.S. material in nuclear testing, and India’s willingness to negotiate Tarapur and other non-proliferation issues. We should also welcome Desai’s assertion that he plans no further nuclear tests and would consult with us if he changes his mind. This message could be contained in a letter from you which replies to his May 16 letter.3 Since Desai’s letter dealt at great length on the nuclear issue, it would be logical for your response to develop this issue further. I will send you a draft shortly.4

[Omitted here is material unrelated to India.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State): 6/77. Secret. In the upper right-hand corner of the first page of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Cy, J.”
  2. See footnote 6, Document 76.
  3. See Document 73.
  4. In left-hand margin next to this paragraph, Carter wrote: “ok—be specific.”