What Did JFK Say About Nehru That Modi Mentioned In His Lok Sabha Speech
PM Modi made a reference to ex-CIA agent Bruce Riedel’s book ‘JFK’s Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, The CIA, And The Sino-Indian War’, which talks about how Nehru sought arms from the U.S. to fight China and Kennedy calling the PM's visit as 'the worst'.
Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha Speech: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha speech on Tuesday found a special mention of the book 'JFK’s Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, The CIA, And The Sino-Indian War' written by a former CIA agent-turned-scholar Bruce Riedel in which he mentioned that during a state visit by Jawaharlal Nehru to the United States in November 1961 the former Indian Prime Minister sought America’s help in fighting China which had rejected the McMahon Line. This was exactly a year before the Sino-Indian War of 1962 began.
“After reading a book they (opposition) will understand what to speak and where to speak. This book is written by a renowned foreign policy scholar and this book mentions some crucial events. This book gives a detailed description of Pandit Nehru and the then President of the United States John F. Kennedy’s conversation,” Modi said in this speech apparently taking a jibe at Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre on Monday for the way it is dealing with China.
While referring to the book which he needed to read from his notes, the Prime Minister said, “At a time when the country was facing numerous challenges, the foreign policy of our nation became a game, and this book reveals that reality. I encourage everyone to read this book.”
In the book Riedel, who is currently a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the American think-tank Brookings, mentions how the first Indian PM urged the then Ambassador of the U.S. to India John Kenneth Galbraith to “endorse” India’s claim to the McMahon Line – the boundary between India and China that was drawn up between the British and Tibet in July 1914.
Riedel notes how in October 1961 Nehru told Galbaith that India “had to have aid and it would have to come from the United States” as the Russians refused to help New Delhi even as the erstwhile USSR took China’s side.
“He knew he needed JFK’s help, but did not want to be seen to be abandoning his principles,” writes Riedel as Nehru did not want to join SEATO – a military alliance. Nehru was assured by Galbraith that it would not be so and the U.S. along with the United Kingdom assisted India with military aid.
When Kennedy Called Nehru’s Visit 'Worst'
As relationship began to warm up between the U.S. and India with the military assistance, Nehru undertook a visit to the U.S. to meet its then President John F. Kennedy, popularly known as JFK, in November 1961.
The U.S. President told Galbraith after the visit was over “it was the worst state visit” under his presidency and “felt that Nehru seemed more interested in talking with Jackie than with him.”
Jacqueline Kennedy, who was fondly called Jackie, was the first lady of the U.S. at that time.
According to Riedel, “During this visit, Nehru was unusually taciturn, probably because of fatigue and jet lag. The president (JFK) tried to engage him (Nehru) in conversation, but Nehru responded in monosyllables or said nothing at all.”
Riedel also wrote what Galbraith later mentioned in his diary about the conversation between Nehru and JFK: “Nehru simply did not respond. Question after question he answered with monosyllables or a sentence or two… The President found it very discouraging.”
Riedel also quoted JFK’s adviser Ted Sorensen about the meeting who said, “that meeting convinced him that Nehru would never be a strong reed on which to rely.”
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