Jawaharlal Nehru 'pleaded' for US help against China in 1962

[Ingis]

Jawaharlal Nehru pleaded for US help against China in 1962

NEW DELHI: Ironically, at a time when the US is said to be helping India emerge as a counter-balance to China, comes evidence that the fading superpower was of little value for New Delhi when it desperately needed help to keep the same China at bay in the 1962 war.

While bringing back memories of perhaps the worst humiliation independent India suffered, the disclosure in the US of details of letters written by then PM Jawaharlal Nehru to President John F Kennedy seeking "comprehensive assistance" from the US against China shows the pragmatic dimension of his policy of non-alignment.

According to reports, Nehru sought aid from the US in these letters, which have been made accessible by the JFK Library in Washington, in the form of air power including fighter aircraft and pilots to handle them and train Indian staff. While it was known even at the time of the 1962 war that Nehru had sought `general' help from the US, the extent to which Nehru had gone in seeking military aid was not known.

The two letters are still classified by the White House and State Department apparently at the request of the Indian government. The Indian government in the past has denied existence of these letters.

While seeking comprehensive aid in the second letter, Nehru said India had not asked for more help, particularly air power, because of "wider ramifications" and because it did not want to embarrass its friends.

Admitting that Indians couldn't use air strikes against the rampaging Chinese army for fear of retaliatory action, Nehru went on to specifically ask for 12 squadrons of supersonic all-weather fighters and a modern radar system. He also mentioned that these aircraft would have to be manned by US personnel while the Indians were still being trained.

Apart from it having the potential of embarrassing the Congress party, the disclosure has also been described by foreign policy experts, including former foreign secretary Kapil Sibal and former diplomat G Parthasarathy, as a clear case of US letting India down badly. "What has come out is factually correct. These facts came out after the event too but the important thing is that only after we got nothing from the US did arms supplies from the Soviet Union to India commence," Parthasarathy said.

Sibal described the contents of the letters as Nehru's desperate bid for help against all the principles he had espoused as a leader of the non-aligned movement even though he added that what Nehru did should be judged in the context of history. "Given the Cold War and Communism, it was the only available option for him. Our forces suffered a rout and it was a personal setback for an ailing Nehru given what happened to his Hindi-Chini initiative. The moral of the story is to build up a strong defence against China," Sibal said.

AICC spokesman Manish Tewari, however, justified Nehru's action. "It is part of historical record that India did request the major powers including the US for logistical help to repudiate the Chinese aggression. This is exactly what enlightened national interest means -- that is putting the nation first," he said.

Jawaharlal Nehru pleaded for US help against China in 1962 - The Times of India

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Nehru is a disgrace on the history of independent India. This hypocritical, short-sighted inept leader had so many flaws -- first sings Hindi-Chini bhai bhai and then unilaterally adopts "forward policy" to jeopardize relations with neighboring China. Moreover, he first advocates for non-alignment but later deviates from his principles and begs US for military help.

India and China have peacefully coexisted next to each other for thousands of years and all the peace and goodwill was destroyed because of Nehru. This person is solely responsible for the humiliation India suffered in 1962 and for the atmosphere of suspicion and hostility that plagues Sino-Indian relations till this day.

It is amusing that one would still find some Indians who adore Nehru. When it comes ignorance and blind faith, unfortunately my country is a global leader.

 

[Jackdaws]

Well, at least he did something right. JFK was also busy with the Cuban Missile Crisis which was taking place concurrently. And the Americans DID NOT let India down. They helped us and prevented a total Chinese rout.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

And his damn promise of holding refrendum in Kashmir as a result of Ceasefire.

 

[Ingis]

Well, at least he did something right. JFK was also busy with the Cuban Missile Crisis which was taking place concurrently. And the Americans DID NOT let India down. They helped us and prevented a total Chinese rout.

As you said, one of the main reasons why China did not press for total victory was the fact that it feared that the two superpowers - USA and USSR - might get involved in the conflict. So, even a diplomatic support by USA was a sufficient deterrent.

And the Americans had already given the Indians their diplomatic support and had provided India with some immediate military assistance too. Therefore, for Nehru to go a step further and blatantly beg the Americans for military help is an utter disgrace. This man sang the tune of non-alignment, self-sufficiency and sovereignty for much of his lifetime. But when the challenge really came, he left India's destiny at the hands of a Western power.

 

[Jackdaws]

As you said, one of the main reasons why China did not press for total victory was the fact that it feared that the two superpowers - USA and USSR - might get involved in the conflict. So, even a diplomatic support by USA was a sufficient deterrent.

And the Americans had already given the Indians their diplomatic support and had provided India with some immediate military assistance too. Therefore, for Nehru to go a step further and blatantly beg the Americans for military help is an utter disgrace. This man sang the tune of non-alignment, self-sufficiency and sovereignty for much of his lifetime. But when the challenge really came, he left India's destiny at the hands of a Western power.

He was inept and he was naive. But I also believe he was sincere in his ill founded ideals. It must have killed him to plead, but he was left with no choice. He would have been in a position of a priest caught in a hen house.

 

[Gazzi]

I wonder how many of you people here would have made any other decision as compared to Nehru of that time.

Remember, China had a decisive victory over India, Nehru did whatever he could to save his country. 40 years on and the decendents of India now talk about humiliation he bought upon them, not the fact that his actions direct and indirect caused China to withdraw in any way.

He did what he had to do in the circumstances............and India is still there today........

 

[SpArK]

Nehru messed it up.. But it was typical for a new born nation ..

Thanks to that we grew stronger on it..

 

[Jackdaws]

I wonder how many of you people here would have made any other decision as compared to Nehru of that time.

Remember, China had a decisive victory over India, Nehru did whatever he could to save his country. 40 years on and the decendents of India now talk about humiliation he bought upon them, not the fact that his actions direct and indirect caused China to withdraw in any way.

He did what he had to do in the circumstances............and India is still there today........

I said he did one thing right in asking for aid. Imploring for aid. Begging for aid. Whatever. I just hate it that wherever I look around in India - some new scheme or infrastructure project is named after him as if he was some saint. The likes of Sardar Patel and Ambedkar contributed more to nation building and the likes of Bose, Tilak, Gokhale, Bhagat Singh contributed more to independence. Nehru was just lucky to be Gandhi's blue eyed boy.

 

[karan.1970]

I said he did one thing right in asking for aid. Imploring for aid. Begging for aid. Whatever. I just hate it that wherever I look around in India - some new scheme or infrastructure project is named after him as if he was some saint. The likes of Sardar Patel and Ambedkar contributed more to nation building and the likes of Bose, Tilak, Gokhale, Bhagat Singh contributed more to independence. Nehru was just lucky to be Gandhi's blue eyed boy.

Doesnt that hold true in real life too. You need that extra bit of luck to really strike gold from among a bunch of folks who are as good as you and some even better...

That in no way though diminishes his achievements..

 

[unicorn]

I wonder how many of you people here would have made any other decision as compared to Nehru of that time.

Remember, China had a decisive victory over India, Nehru did whatever he could to save his country. 40 years on and the decendents of India now talk about humiliation he bought upon them, not the fact that his actions direct and indirect caused China to withdraw in any way.

He did what he had to do in the circumstances............and India is still there today........

I feel sorry for NEHRU here

 

[Ras]

Jawaharlal Nehru pleaded for US help against China in 1962



Jawaharlal Nehru pleaded for US help against China in 1962 - The Times of India

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nehru is a disgrace on the history of independent India. This hypocritical, short-sighted inept leader had so many flaws -- first sings Hindi-Chini bhai bhai and then unilaterally adopts "forward policy" to jeopardize relations with neighboring China. Moreover, he first advocates for non-alignment but later deviates from his principles and begs US for military help.

India and China have peacefully coexisted next to each other for thousands of years and all the peace and goodwill was destroyed because of Nehru. This person is solely responsible for the humiliation India suffered in 1962 and for the atmosphere of suspicion and hostility that plagues Sino-Indian relations till this day.

It is amusing that one would still find some Indians who adore Nehru. When it comes ignorance and blind faith, unfortunately my country is a global leader.

So much for his "non-aligned" stature...when the time came he begged the "imperialist" for help.The guy was a joker.

 

[kashith]

We could have maintained a respectful distance from China and it would havent attacked India, first he made them friends then egged them on...

India is a mess because of him and only in last decade we have started recovering from it

 

[Infinite Sapience]

So much for his "non-aligned" stature...when the time came he begged the "imperialist" for help.The guy was a joker.

Yet never joined them..he was an idealist not a realist, did make lot blunders during his tenure like taking Kashmir issue to UN , recognizing Tibet as part of China, not able read Mao's intentions.
Putting armed forces modernisation on the back burner, but his Non alignment policy did India and rest of the world a lot of good.

 

[Ras]

Yet never joined them..he was an idealist not a realist, did make lot blunders during his tenure like taking Kashmir issue to UN , recognizing Tibet as part of China, not able read Mao's intentions.
Putting armed forces modernisation on the back burner, but his Non alignment policy did India and rest of the world a lot of good.

And in the end he begged the US did he not?...why did he not ask his non-aligned friends for help?
As for helping India,His non-aligned socialist quazi commi economic policies almost made India bankrupt less than 20 years ago and earned India China's enmity.

Among all the founding fathers in the world...Nehru was the biggest clown.

 

[Kinetic]

And in the end he begged the US did he not?...why did he not ask his non-aligned friends for help?
As for helping India,His non-aligned socialist quazi commi economic policies almost made India bankrupt less than 20 years ago and earned India China's enmity.

Learn the history before talking. China was common enemy to both India and US so he sought for help it was not kinda aid. What he did for economy of India is what he could have done at that time. About China's enmity, its adopted by the commies of china themselves. they fought with everyone in that period.

Among all the founding fathers in the world...Nehru was the biggest clown.

Calling some country's founding father clown, you are just probing your self a retard. think before using such words against national heroes.