791.00/1–1254: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
1092. Re Deptel 799 January 9.1 Embassy believes Bishop Pickett’s fears of increased antagonism against American missionaries if US grants military aid to Pakistan2 are justified. However, we do not think situation is likely to get out of hand and squeeze on missionaries will be gradual rather than precipitate.
Bishop Pickett maintains close contact with Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Minister of Health and only Christian in Cabinet. Possibility exists that she may be using Pickett as channel to put pressure on US Government against Pakistan aid.
Department is doubtless aware that all foreign evangelical activity in India is destined to feel steadily increased pressure. If aid to Pakistan were not taken as excuse, some other issue would be found. As India nationalism becomes increasingly ascendant, foreign efforts to convert Moslems and Hindus to Christianity will be more and more resented. Since western missionaries came to India during British [Page 1732] rule, Indians by and large connect our missionaries with foreign domination despite best efforts of missionaries to counteract this attitude. Opposition is against proselytizing and not against medical and educational mission activity.
During 8 months I have been here, American missionaries have not once called on Embassy for official intervention and prefer to stand on their own record. I have intervened twice on my own initiative, once on behalf Jesuit Fathers at Nirmalt College and once for Protestant Pastor in Delhi. Practically all of 4,000 American missionary communities are strongly opposed to US military aid to Pakistan and worried over consequences to them but they have not requested any intervention on their personal behalf.
It should be pointed out that private American charitable foundations, such as Ford and Rockefeller, are well regarded and, appear to be in no danger unless anti-American feeling gets completely out of hand, which Embassy does not expect.
I may add that MRA movement, which does not demand renunciation of previous religious affiliation, continues to receive support here. Leadership is largely in Indian hands and movement is consistently not regarded as alien or unpatriotic.
Reports of threats against Nehru are difficult to evaluate. Such reports have been frequent since 1947 and Indian CID is, of course, constantly on alert. He refuses to limit his public appearances before large crowds and would be easy target. Communal outbreaks are possible at time aid is announced, but they are likely to be short-lived.
Embassy believes GOI is fully alive to situation but we are passing on pertinent reports. I have received usual run of letters containing personal threats, some of which have been passed on to MEA.
I am advising Americans here to act with calmness and continued friendliness towards our Indian contacts and to ignore to extent possible anti-American indications. Great majority of our Indian contacts talk to us more in sorrow than anger and we have not experienced difficulties in our personal relationships, nor do I expect we shall.
- Not printed; the Department requested that the Embassy in New Delhi estimate how great an increase in antagonism there would be toward American missionaries if the decision were made to provide U.S. military aid to Pakistan. The Embassy was also asked to evaluate reports of plans of attempts on Nehru’s life and to provide its views on the likelihood of communal outbreaks stimulated by right-wing extremists. (791.00/1–754)↩
- For documentation regarding the granting of U.S. military aid to Pakistan, see pp. 1818 ff. and volume ix.↩