Telegram sent 10 December 1965
To Right Honourable Sir Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia
From Moira Dynon, Chairman, Aid for India Campaign:
With regard to grain sales to India the Australian Government has remained silent and apparently inactive since the drought and crop failures in India STOP Grave concern is now being expressed in view of the BBC announcement Saturday disclosing proposed grain aid by Australian Government ostensibly on humanitarian grounds to certain southern African countries STOP This aid is now proposed whilst the Australian Government has apparently done nothing, since the present grave famine in India, towards satisfying the immediate food needs of the people of democratic India STOP
It is submitted that whilst the proposed aid to southern African States may be welcomed by these States and commendable on humanitarian grounds, the timing of this aid could be interpreted in Asia and in Africa as a move by white Commonwealth countries to stave off criticism of certain British policies at the forthcoming conference at Lagos STOP When it is remembered that the President of the United States of America in December, 1965, set the stage for one of the largest famine relief programs in history, by calling on all grain producing nations including Australia to make available supplies of grain on humanitarian terms to India, the now proposed Australian Government priority aid to South African States could fairly appear to the USA as a rebuff, and to India, an unfriendly act by an unsympathetic and disinterested Commonwealth Member Government
Sincerely, Moira Dynon