Note, Homi Bhabha to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri

Government of India

Atomic Energy Commission

Confidential

REF: C-94-64

April 13, 1964.

Dear Lal Bahadurji,

I attach herewith a synopsis from the U.K. Press No.425 issued at New Delhi under the heading ‘India can make Bomb’ on 2nd April 1964, which I have just seen. That we could make an atomic bomb, if we wanted to, has been stated openly tor quite some time, and the President himself said so in a speech to Parliament some years ago. That we are striving to obtain Government decision to do so is however false. As you are aware, since you deal with atomic energy matters, no paper has been sent either to you or to the Prime Minister suggesting that we take up the manufacture of atomic weapons, and even the Atomic Energy Commission has had no paper to this effect before it. The article in the Sunday Telegraph appears to be full of misinformation, and I do not know whether we should contradict it or simply remain quiet.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

[signature]

[Homi Bhabha]

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri,

Minister Without Portfolio,

NEW DELHI.