331. Editorial Note
Secretary of Defense Neil McElroy was in Pakistan between October 23 and 27 for an official visit. His trip included stops in Karachi and Peshawar. The Secretary was accompanied by Admiral James S. Russell, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Oliver N. Gale, his Special Assistant; and Brigadier General A. Randall, his Military Assistant. On October 24, McElroy and his party met with General Ayub Khan and the other Commanders in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces to discuss U.S. military assistance to Pakistan. A summary of that meeting was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 1067 from Karachi, October 30. (Department of State, Central Files, 790D.5–MSP/10–3058) A full memorandum of that conversation, along with a detailed report on McElroy’s visit, was sent to the Department in despatch 494 from Karachi, November 28. Ridgway B. Knight, Deputy Chief of Mission in Karachi, commented in the despatch as follows: “As might be expected, Pakistanis seized the opportunity of Mr. McElroy’s visit to present to him their military shopping list. Their manner of presentation at the conference on October 24 was convincing and well done. Although the Pakistani military did not hope to get any firm commitments at the time, by continually presenting requests for military assistance to all visitors on appropriate occasions they hope thereby to achieve their ends.” (Ibid., 033.1100–MC/11–2858)