My dear Prime Minister:1 On November eighteenth, I had a most interesting talk with Dr. Radhakrishnan.2 As you know, he had come to Washington at some inconvenience to himself to present on behalf of the Indian Council of States a new ivory gavel to the United States Senate. That friendly gesture symbolized the instinctive fellowship between our parliaments, and was warmly appreciated. Dr. Radhakrishnan has many friends in this country and it is always a pleasure to have him with us.
The gift of the gavel from India and the discussion I had with Dr. Radhakrishnan impressed me again with the many things which we hold in common.
I know how deeply you hope for world peace and how earnestly you are working to advance it. I too am entirely certain that there is no alternative to peace if ours is to be a happy and fruitful world. The policy of the administration is to work for the development of that atmosphere of live and let live among nations without which, I believe, efforts to settle problems by peaceful negotiation are not likely to succeed.
The policies of states vary as their views concerning their security requirements differ and as their peculiar circumstances warrant. This is natural and proper. I know that India is confronted with enormous problems, which sometimes cause you to see things differently from ourselves, but as I indicated to Dr. Radhakrishnan you have my sympathy and understanding in the tasks that are ever before you. What really counts is that there be common ground on which we can work out mutual problems and minimize differences. I believe the United States and India have such common ground in abundance. I do not consider that our differences in approach constitute any bar to growing friendship and cooperation between our two nations. Indeed, I cannot conceive that our two nations have any future but one of closer relations for our common welfare.3
With good wishes and kind personal regard, Sincerely
