Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–7, Documents on South Asia, 1969–1972
Document 205
205. Telegram 642 From the
Embassy in India
to the
Department of State
1
2
New Delhi
,
January 16, 1972, 0711Z
Subject:
Foreign Secretary’s Approach for Improved Indo-U.S.Relations
Begin summary: During January 15 call on Foreign Secretary, he used occasion to make overture for improved Indo-U.S. relations. Approach not motivated by ulterior motives such as desire for U.S. aid, he said, but “on higher plane”. Requested
USG
to consider and reply to Indian interest on improved relations. Action requested: Please prepare appropriate response to be conveyed to Foreign Secretary. End summary.
1.
In characteristic
Kaul
fashion, Foreign Secretary called me in January 15 ostensibly to discuss situation in Saigon (reported
septel
), but had other, more important matters on his mind.
Kaul
opened

conversation by saying that time has come to improve Indo-U.S. relations. If there is desire to have better relations on part of Washington, he said, two sides should do something about it. If not, and Washington wanted to allow continued drift, that was another matter.
Kaul
requested that I convey this message to Washington with hope that it would be considered and reply given. As far as India is concerned, he said, there is desire to improve relations.
2.
Kaul
said that he felt both sides unduly influenced by press, and cited reports that Ambassador Jha in “deepfreeze” in Washington. He said he had queried
Jha
on these reports and
Jha
had informed him that he is not in “deepfreeze” and has access to whomever he wants to see.
Kaul
said he was gratified at
Jha
’s report.
3.
Kaul
said he wanted to make completely clear that this approach not motivated by any desire to see restoration of economic asistance or other “ulterior motives.”
Kaul
said he was speaking on “much higher plane” and that
GOI
felt relations between our two countries were too important to be “subverted”.
4.
I replied that I was gratified at
GOI
overture for better relations (
Kaul
did not balk at my intentional use of “overture”). I said I would, of course, transmit his views to my government and that I hoped it would have some positive suggestions. Nothing would please me more, I said than to see our relations restored. I cautioned
Kaul
that it might take some time for a substantive reply.
5.
I told
Kaul
I was particularly glad that he felt our two governments should not be unduly influenced by press and noted that recent Indian press reports of alleged sinking of Indian frigate Khukri by U.S. submarine and Defense Minister’s remarks about U.S. support for use of
Pak
submarine Ghazi to attack Visag naval base were extremely damaging to Indo-U.S. relations. Both
Kaul
and Joint Secretary Menon hurriedly denied that Defense Minister had made statements attributed to him in press press journal.
6.
Regarding
Kaul
’s statement that approach was on higher plane and did not involve question of economic assistance, I said that I had noted frequent statements by various senior

GOI
officials, including Prime Minister herself, to effect that India must get away from too much reliance on foreign aid. U.S. felt this attitude commendable, I said, and added that main purpose of U.S. economic assistance had been to enable aided countries to stand on their own feet.
Comment: I am gratified at Kauls’s initiative to improve relations and would hope I could be authorized to make a positive response. Specific suggestions in that regard will follow septel.
Keating