150 Barred Zones/40

The Secretary in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell) to the Secretary of State

No. 1007

Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the legislation now pending before the Congress of the United States regarding the [Page 283] granting of citizenship to Indians has created considerable favorable comment in the Indian Press.

At yesterday’s session of the Central Assembly, Sir Olaf Caroe, Secretary, External Affairs Department, reviewed the history of Indian immigration and citizenship and summarized the points in the pending legislation. In reply to a question, Sir Olaf stated that the Government of India has taken the initiative in raising the matter of Indian immigration into the United States and the granting of citizenship as soon as the American Government had passed the action conferring such rights on the Chinese.

Respectfully yours,

George R. Merrell