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January 19, 1974

US Embassy India cable 0743 to State Department, 'India’s Nuclear Intentions'

This document was made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)

The Embassy assessed India's potential for the development of nuclear weapons amd concluded that “deeper economic problems,” among other considerations militated against a nuclear test in the near future, even though the Indian government had the capabilities to produce and test a device. While there were no rumors about a test as there had been in 1972, “we know little about relevant internal government debate.” All in all, the embassy believed that economic conditions “tip the likelihood of an early test to a lower level than previous years.” Russell Jack Smith, previously the deputy director for intelligence at the CIA, and then serving as special assistant to the ambassador (station chief), was one of the officials who signed off on this cable.


Document Information

Source

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E-8, Documents on South Asia, 1973–1976, Document 156. Obtained and contributed by William Burr and included in NPIHP Research Update #4.

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Original Uploaded Date

2011-12-07

Type

Cable

Language

Record ID

113910

Original Classification

Confidential

Donors

Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)