GANDHI TALKS NON-ALIGNMENT WHILE SEEKING U.S.WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000200720013-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2012
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: June 14, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP90-00965R000200720013-0
By Thomas D. Brandt
WASHINGTON TIMES STAFF
WASHINGTON TIMES
14 June 1985
Gandhi talks non-alignment
while seekin
U.S.
g weapons
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gan-
dhi told a joint meeting of Congress
yesterday that "India and the United
States are not allies in security)
strategies," while elsewhere in
Washington officials were negotiat-
ing a sale of advanced military tech-
nology- to India.
Mr. Gandhi also called for nuclear
disarmament yesterday and in what
appeared to be a reference to the
Reagan administration's Strategic
Defense Initiative, mentioned "our
deep reservation about the militari-
zation of outer space"
Mr. Gandhi was cordially
received in the Capitol and under-
lined the theme that the two democ-
racies "are friends in larger human
causes - freedom, justice and
peace."
Mr. Gandhi, 40, elaborated on
India's leadership role in the non-
aligned movement of nations which
met recently in New Delhi. His
Italian-born wife Sonia watched
from the packed visitors gallery of
the House chamber.
"We are opposed to the polariza-
tion of the world into rival military
blocs. Non-alignment is the exten-
sion of the idea of democracy to
international relations," he said.
India is "apprehensive" about the
establishment of military bases
around the world and cited the "mili-
tarization of the Indian Ocean" as a
development that directly affects his
nation, he said.
India, a non-aligned democracy of
750 million people, is courting both
the United States and the Soviet
Union where Mr. Gandhi completed
a state visit and a $1.15 billion indus-
trial credit agreement two weeks
ago.
The United States has agreed in
principle to sell military hardware
to India which recently expressed
an interest in surveillance and
fighter aircraft, air defense and anti-
submarine warfare items.
The agreement hinges on provi-
sions in India to assure that there
will be no leaks of military tech-
nology to the Soviet Union which
now provides the bulk of India's
defense goods.
Mr. Reagan and Mr. Gandhi have
discussed the Soviet military occu-
pation of Afghanistan which is an-
issue that complicates relations
between the United States and India.
The United States is the prime included members of the diplomatic
arms supplier to Pakistan so that corps and President Reagan:s Cahi-
country can defend itself against the net, besides the memhcrs of Con-
Soviet presence in neighboring
Afghanistan. India, which has been gross.
buying Soviet defense materiel for He also cited the late Mahatma
20 years, says it accepts the Soviet Gandhi, a leader of the Indian inde-
view that Soviet troops were invited pendence movement whose "idea of
into Afghanistan and are not an inva- non-violence as a positive moral
sion force. force was later to travel beyond our
However. Pakistan, which is a sup- borders to influence Martin Luther
ply conduit for much of the Afghan King in your country's civil rights
resistance. is a foe of India's which movement"
believes those U.S. arms could be At another point, Mr. Gandhi left
used against them. India and Paki- his prepared text and spoke with
stan have fought three times since ease about India's "mixed economy;"
1947. where he said that the private sector
"We stand for a political settle- would alwas be larger than the pub-
ment in Afghanistan that ensures lic sector or- those areas which are a
sovereignty, integrity, independence combination of both.
and non-aligned status, and enables Again highlighting the themes of
the refugees to return to their homes non-alignment, Mr. Gandhi said it is
in safety and honor," Mr. Gandhi - part of the effort to restore "confi-
said. dence in international economic
In an apparent reference to the cooperation.."
U.S. sale of F-16 jet fighters and That cooperation, he said, is
other weapons to Pakistan, Mr. Gan- important to India's development.
dhi said India is "directly affected" "We have to modernize.much of
by the flow of "increasingly sophis- our existing industry, increase pro-
ticated arms into our neighborhood." ductivity and make it internationally
As is the custom when both competitive;' he said.
houses of Congress gather to hear a "I dream of an India - strong,
foreign head of state, the Indian independent, self-reliant and in the
leader spoke in English. He front rank of the nations of the world
addressed the House chamber from in the service of mankind;' he said
the same rostrum where President near the close of his address.
Reagan delivers his annual State of "Concessional assistance is dry-
the Union speech. ing up at a time when it is needed
Mr. -Gandhi's grandfather, most. 'It-ade barriers are going up.
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime The livelihood of millions in the
minister of India following its inde- developing countries is in jeopardy,'
pendence in 1947, addressed a simi- Mr. Gandhi said in an apparent call
lar joint session 36 years ago. Mr. for more U.S. participation in mul-
Gandhi succeeded his mother Indira tilateral economic development
as prime minister after she was assistance for Third World coun-
assassinated Oct. 31. tries.
Earlier in his speech, Mr. Gandhi "U.S. economic assistance was of
drew laughter and applause when he great help to us especially in the
traced common threads of history 1960s," he said.
between the two nations from the In private, Indian officials this
late 1700s when both were British week said the United States had
colonies. proven to he an unreliable supplier
"We wish that Elihu Yale had of industrial and military materials,
founded a university for us instead often threatening to cut off spare
of being governor of Madras and parts when it feels that India takes
that Lord Cornwallis had surren- an anti-U.S. stand on international
dered in Delhi rather than to Gen- issues.
eral Washington," Mr. Gandhi said in After his meeting with President
his understated fashion. Reagan on Wednesday, Mr. Gandhi
"It was Indian tea that stimulated said India will maintain its policy of
your independence movement," he non-alignment and does not believe
added immediately, triggering more friendship with the United States i
mirth from the chamber that "must beat the cost" of ties with the
Soviet Union.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP90-00965R000200720013-0