Memorandum from Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Averell Harriman to President Harry S. Truman

DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Bowles Program of Additional Aid for India Ambassador Bowles has asked your support for an increase of $125 million in Fiscal Year 1953 aid for India. This would be in addition to the Adninistration proposal to the Congress of $115 million. (See his telegram to you, No. 4356 from New Delhi, copy of which is attached. He is expected to arrive in the United States on June 3, but probably will not be in Washington until June 9. Ambassador Bowles discussed his program for India with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with a number of members of Congress in January. He also explained his views fully to representatives of the Administration at that time. With global requirements and United States availabilities in mind, however, the Adninistration requested only $115 million for India rather than the amount of $200 to $250 million then suggested by Bowles. The Administration program included the whole of the technical assistance and developmental supplies supported by Bowles, but did not include his proposals for supplying on a grant basis sub- stantial quantities of grain, cotton, and other general commodity imports. The Ambassador was informed that his proposal would be kept under review. With respect to the present legislation, the Conference Report on the Fiscal Year 1953 authorizing legislation cuts by percent the request made for technical assistance for Title III countries, of which India and Pakistan are the most important. Such a cut would reduce the India program from $115 million requested tomabout $77 million. Ambassador Bowles has continued to urge a request for addition- al money to provide imports of commodities which will relieve a heavy DECLASSIFIED STATE DEPT. 77.3.23 Authority By He NLT Date 5-12-63