Letter dated 22 December 1966
To Senator Robert F. Kennedy, The Senate, Washington, USA:
From Moira Dynon, Chairman Aid for India Campaign
Dear Senator Kennedy,
Thank you very much for your letter of 15th December and enclosed letter dated 12th December from Mr. Douglas MacArthur II Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. I thank you sincerely for your representations following receipt of my cable and for your kind offer of further assistance.
You will be interested to learn that Press reports in Australia yesterday (21st December 1966) claimed that “Australia had given 150,000 tons of wheat to India as a result of considerable diplomatic pressure from the White House”. As an example of these reports I am enclosing the clipping from “The Age”.
There is profound goodwill amongst the Australian people for the people of India—our neighbour and friend and such reports have created a feeling of resentment amongst Australians. Such reports, whether true or false, do not foster friendship and goodwill between the people of Australia and of the United States of America. The gift of wheat and flour by the Australian Government has been made unconditionally in the spirit of friendship and understanding. It is the third such gift of food made by our Government to India in less than twenty-two (22) months. In addition, numerous voluntary organizations throughout Australia are doing what they can to strengthen the ties of friendship between the peoples of India and Australia in a practical way, either by contributions of processed milk (see enclosure) or by the supply of money and equipment for long term development projects.
With regard to the letter from Mr. Douglas MacArthur II dated 12th December, I wish to make the following comments:
- It is a fact that millions of people in India are facing starvation due to drought and crop failures consequent on the failure of the monsoon rains.
- It is a fact that India has serious foreign exchange difficulties and the new food crisis has placed a heavy strain on her financial resources.
- It appears to be a fact that some high authority in the U.S.A. has delayed the signing of the proposed new Agreement providing for the supplies of grain to India.
- In the Indian Parliament on 29th November, the Indian Minister for Food and Agriculture (Mr. C. Subramaniam) stated:
“In the case a new agreement with the United States Government on food supplies is not finalized in a few days, there will be a break in the shipments resulting in a shortfall in January… The Government also has to provide for imports from February onwards…in view of our extremely difficult foreign exchange position we cannot naturally embark on any large scale imports of wheat on a commercial basis and we are hoping that a new agreement with the U.S. Government will be possible very soon.”
- It has been announced that on 26th November, the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, said at the Press Club that the “suddenness with which the United States freeze on food imports had come has thrown us out of gear…If India had been told of the American difficulties in sending supplies earlier—the request for two million tons was made as early as August—we could have adjusted our own programmes accordingly”. (India News, Information Service of India, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia 29th November 1966).
- It is a fact that the date for the next Indian General Elections has been fixed for 14th February to 20th February, 1967, in all the 17 States of India for the Lok Sabha (House of the People) as well as the State Legislative Assemblies.
- If the shortage of grain supplies in the U.S.A. is the reason for the delay in the Agreement referred to, what can be the objectives of the U.S. field survey team?
- If the high U.S. authority is concerned whether India is doing enough to help herself, the information concerning India’s progress and development is readily available and there should be no reason for delay. As no doubt you are aware, in June 1966 in New Delhi, the U.S.A. Ambassador, Mr. Chester Bowles said “India has made more progress in the past fifteen years than during two centuries under foreign rule”.
- It would appear that the sending of the U.S. survey field team to India is a delaying tactic.
- If it is intended that the aim of the U.S. field team should result in an international co-ordinated effort for emergency supplies of food to India, it would seem appropriate that the field team should include representatives of other nations.
- In Australia and elsewhere, it is being suggested that President Johnson is using the situation as a political lever on the Indian Government in an effort to persuade her leaders to approve of certain foreign policies of the U.S.A. Of course, I myself am not in a position to know whether this allegation has any substance of truth.
- There can be no doubt at all that the United States Government and people have given generously to help not only in India but also in other countries throughout the world. However, the present world situation and the present Indian famine call for substantial and immediate food assistance to India on pure humanitarian grounds leaving no room for suspicion of political pressure.
It has been reported that India has asked our Government for the supply of a large quantity of wheat on deferred payment terms. Our Campaign has called upon the Australian Government to enter into the necessary arrangements providing for the sale of Australian wheat to India on more generous trading terms than are granted to Communist China. It is hoped that our Government will be able to make such arrangements even if it means changing the present systems of wheat sales by the Australian Wheat Board. Our Campaign feels that this may be in line with what President Johnson has in mind. However, if widespread starvation in India is to be avoided decisions must be made now before it is too late.
As you are aware, India, the world’s largest democracy, most realistically represents the cause of freedom and democracy on the Asian mainland. As no doubt India holds the key to the future of Asia, the destiny of Australia as a democratic nation is inevitably linked with India. The new food crisis in India not only endangers the lives of seventy million Indian children and adults but also threatens to undermine the democratic structure of India.
I am sure that Australians would appreciate your further intervention in an effort to expedite the early decisions and action required if mass starvation and tragedy are to be avoided in democratic India.
With every good wish,
I am, Yours sincerely,
MOIRA DYNON,
Chairman Aid for India Campaign.