Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Pakistan Mohammed Ali, Mir Laik Ali, and Lee E. Metcalf

- SECURITY INFORMATION 5/5 0031 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 227 119 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: July 18, 1952 SUBJECT: Government of Pakistan's Request for Special Assistance in Arms Procurement PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Mir Laik Ali, Adviser to the Ministry of Defense, Government of Pakistan Ambassador Mohammed Ali SOA - Lee E. Metcalf COPIES TO: s/s (2) NEA S/MSA CIA BNA Embassy Karachi Embassy London u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Mir Laik Ali began the interview by handing me a letter from Prime Minister Nazimuddin which alluded to a "growing sense of insecurity [which/ is spreading over the minds of the people of /Pakistan7 as the result of changes that are taking place in a big way in several of the larger surround- ing countries." The letter pointed to the limitation of Fakistan's resources in developing a defense establishment, and sought the good offices of the Department of State in furnishing some of Pakistan's needs. Laik Ali expanded on Pakistan's "growing insecurity" by describing what his government sees as a potential threat to Pakistan's existence from Soviet Russia, or from an increasingly Soviet-dominated Communist China, or possibly from India. He said that the sense of insecurity with respect to India stems from the fear of the communization of that country, as distinct from a threat of the present Indian Government arising from current controversies. At this point I commented that this observation concerning India was new to me and that it was disturbing to hear. Laik Ali replied that measures are being taken by the Indian Government to combat Communism and that while he hoped those measures would indefinitely postpone the e vil day, Pakistan must prepare for the worst. He explained that the Cabinet had discussed this developing political situation several times, particularly in the light of Pakistan's military weakness. Several cost estimates of Pakistan's desired defense structure were made and invariably they were beyond the country's resources to afford. Finally, a compromise program was devised and he, Mir Laik Ali, was delegated to seek procurement assistance where it might be available. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 10.26.34 - SECURITY INFORMATION By NLT HL NARS Date 11.25.76