Sunday, July 31, 2005

On INDO-US ties... (Part 2)

Another anecdote from INDO-US 'friendship' story.. (from www.businessworldindia.com):
Americans have always put a high premium on style in their dealings with foreign leaders. Rukmini Menon, who was joint secretary in charge of Americas in the Ministry of External Affairs during Kissinger's visit to India in 1971, in a failed attempt to douse the flames of Bangladesh liberation, recalls how the German-American diplomat famous for his intellect tried to downplay substance when he met defence minister Jagjivan Ram, who was preparing for war in East Pakistan. Kissinger had extended an invitation to Ram to visit Washington in the hope that the gesture would win him over. It did not impress Ram, and Kissinger was speechless when the defence minister responded: "Why should I come to Washington?"

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