U.S. Department of State

TELEGRAM
Department of State 28315

O 051656Z FEB 76 ZFF4

FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE

STATE 028315

FOR AMBASSADOR FROM SECRETARY

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, IN, US, USINJC
SUBJECT: INDO-US RELATIONS

REF: NEW DELHI 1610

1. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT IN CARRYING OUT US POLICY TOWARD INDIA. CONSISTENT WITH YOUR OWN ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HAVE FOLLOWED UP YOUR PROTESTS IN NEW DELHI WITH DEMARCHES HERE, THE MOST RECENT BEING JOE SISCO'S STRONG PROTEST TO KAUL ON JANUARY 23 (STATE 018845) AND SPIKE DUBS' REMINDER TO INDIAN DCM HERE JANUARY 30 (STATE 023841) THAT OUR RELATIONS MUST BE A TWO-WAY STREET AND BASED ON RECIPROCITY. WE HAVE ALSO, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EMBASSY (STATE 03633, NEW DELHI 0347), DECIDED TO WITHDRAW OUR OFFER OF DEVELOPMENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FY 76, DELAY NEGOTIATION OF PL 480 ASSISTANCE, AND DENY THE INDIAN REQUEST TO EXTEND THE SATELLITE INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION EXPERIMENT PROGRAM.

2. AS FAR AS JOINT COMMISSION ACTIVITIES ARE CONCERNED, IT WAS AGREED AND I AUTHORIZED THAT THESE SHOULD GO FORWARD BUT ON A LOW-KEY BASIS, BEARING IN MIND THAT CHAVAN AND I HAD EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THESE ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE INSULATED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, FROM THE MOMENTARY UPS AND DOWNS OF OUR POLITICAL RELATIONS. WE WERE, THEREFORE, IN FULL ACCORD WITH YOUR DECISION TO MAINTAIN A LOW PROFILE WITH RESPECT TO THE RECENT MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMISSION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

3. IN CONNECTION WITH THE JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL, WE BELIEVE THAT ITS ESTABLISHMENT PRESENTS A NEW DIMENSION IN OUR POLICY AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS WITH INDIA. THIS GOAL, WHICH YOU HAVE PERSONALLY ENCOURAGED, COULD WORK TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

4. CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL, WE AGREE COMPLETELY WITH YOUR DECISION NOT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL. SECONDLY, WHILE MEETING PRIVATELY WITH THE US SIDE OF THE COUNCIL, WE URGE YOU TO STRESS OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE UNWARRANTED INDIAN CRITICISMS OR THE US AND THAT YOU INFORM THE NUMBERS OF THE DELEGATION OF OUR PROTESTS AND OF THE CONCRETE MANNER IN WHICH OUR DISPLEASURE WITH INDIAN BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT. THIRDLY, IN THE EVENT THAT THE DEPARTMENTAL MESSAGE TO THE JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL GIVES YOU ANY PROBLEMS, YOU MAY, AT YOUR DISCRETION, ASK THAT IT NOT BE DELIVERED, ASSUMING THAT IT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN PASSED ON OR THAT THE INDIAN SIDE HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED THAT SUCH A MESSAGE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING.

5. LET ME ASSURE YOU AGAIN THAT YOU HAVE MY FULL CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT AND THAT I CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING OUR POLICY TOWARD INDIA. WE WILL SEEK TO ENSURE FROM THIS SIDE THAT WE SPEAK AND ACT UNIFORMLY IN THE CONDUCT OF OUR RELATIONS WITH THE INDIANS.

KISSINGER