186. Memorandum of Conversation1 2
SUBJECT:
- Secretary’s Meeting with India Joint Commission Subcommission Chairmen
PARTICIPANTS:
- The Secretary
- The Deputy Secretary
- The Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
- Mr. Alfred L. Atherton, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
- Dr. Dixy Lee Ray, Assistant Secretary (Chairperson of the Science and Technology Subcommission)
- Mr. Thomas O. Enders, Assistant Secretary (Chairman of the Economics Subcommission)
- Dr. Robert Goheen, Chairman of the Educational and Cultural Subcommission
- Mr. Dennis Kux, India Country Director
Secretary: I want the Commission to establish the maximum possible relationship in the most creative possible manner. With India, perhaps the economics are not so fruitful, but in the field of education and science there should be ample opportunities. I would like to use non-governmental resources as well. I would like the commissions to do things imaginatively. Americans should be good at being innovative. One area about which I am fanatic is food production. I cannot get people to focus on this. I would like a coherent policy and program that deals with food, fertilizers, pesticide, water. More generally, I have the conviction that if we do not find new ways to relate to other countries, Congressional restrictions will make it increasingly difficult for us to do business abroad. How are you developing the education program?
Dr. Goheen: We have a number in the group who are very knowledgeable and we should be able to tap them.
[Page 2]Secretary: What do you want to do?
Dr. Goheen: We are still feeling our way, but some of the traditional things seem to have merit. There are important differences of cross-cultural communication to be overcome. There are a number of interesting joint research projects we can develop. In the academic world there needs to be more discussion of mutual interests and points of friction. There is scope for more exchanges in the arts and culture. But as yet we have no sense we have a real handle on what to do.
Secretary: It is true that the connection between Indian and American intellectuals has weakened during the past decade. Frankly, you are better staying away from political topics like discussions on non-alignment and neutralism with the Indians. Some of their more obnoxious characteristics are a sign of defensiveness. I think this can be overcome to some extent. When is Chavan coming?
Mr. Atherton: We have spoken of the third week in March.
Secretary: Can I do it then? Isn’t there the Buenos Aires meeting?
Deputy Secretary: We will check.
Secretary: When do the groups meet?
Deputy Secretary: All three are meeting in January or early February, two here and one in India.
Secretary: This is a major effort and I appreciate your taking it on. I have no guidance on specifics, but will be glad to comment on proposals you make. I am in favor of doing this first class and big in terms of projects. What about an Indian art show like the Chinese exhibit? I was struck by the feeling of history this conveys. Even though I had seen the individual pieces in China, the setting here makes a great deal of difference. I don’t know what we could do in return for an Indian show. Has there been one recently?
Dr. Goheen: I don’t think so.
Mr. Enders: How energetic do you want us to be in the economic/commercial group? Not in terms of giving things away or aid but in terms of removing barriers to trade and investment.
[Page 3]Secretary: I am in favor of the maximum number of ties. However, we cannot promise funds since we will not get Congressional support.
Deputy Secretary: The Indians have been objecting to foreign investment for a long time.
Mr. Enders: There are some things that we can do.
Secretary: I think it is important to let the Indians feel that by moving toward us they are not moving toward another bureaucratic morass.
Mr. Enders: One problem is the question of how to associate the private sector with the subcommission. Because of antitrust and other problems, this is difficult. We are unable to work closely with the private sector the way others do, like the Germans. They are able to tie up an entire package at once. Just associating Chambers of Commerce is not good enough.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use; Exdis. It was drafted by Kux and approved on January 26 in S. The meeting was held in the Secretary’s office.↩
- Secretary of State Kissinger met with the subcommission chairs of the U.S.-Indian Joint Commission to discuss the work of the Commission and noted that the greatest opportunities would be in promoting educational and scientific cooperation.↩