recognition without relations 113
whether he could mention possible date [of ] recognition he replied
[he] would deal matter immediately on return India early November
and we could expect recognition before January [1950].^25Nehru was equally optimistic. Upon returning home, he declared that
the recognition of Israel “cannot obviously be indefi nitely deferred.”^26
While recognition was not forthcoming immediately, India exhibited
some diplomatic niceties. In January 1950, Rau invited Ambassador
Aubrey S. Eban (later Abba Eban) to an offi cial function in New York
marking the ushering in of the Indian republic.^27
Its waffl ing on recognition did not inhibit India from approaching Is-
rael for technical assistance. On November 15, 1947, as the UN General
Assembly was debating the partition plan, Chaim Weizmann (the future
president of Israel) off ered technical assistance to India, which Nehru ac-
cepted.^28 The Zionist leader was acting on the suggestions made by K. M.
Panikkar and Shiva Rao, who were active in the Asian Relations Confer-
ence held earlier that year.^29 Following a series of discussions between
the two sides,^30 in March 1949, India sought agricultural assistance from
Israel. Since it had not recognized the Jewish state, the Ministry of Agri-
culture asked H. Z. Cynowitz, the representative of the Jewish Agency in
India, to take up the request “with your people in Palestine.”^31 Despite the
curious wording, Israel viewed this request as a sign of Indian friendli-
ness. The request “for a loan of agricultural experts showed that no real
hostility existed.”^32 In later years, refl ecting similar sentiments, Nehru’s
biographer S. Gopal observed, “despite basic diff erences with Israel,
Nehru sent some experts to that country to study the working of the
cooperative movement.”^33
The most promising statement on recognition came in February 1950,
when Prime Minister Nehru told the Provisional Parliament: “The fact
that the State of Israel exists is of course recognized by the Government
of India. But formal recognition involving an exchange of diplomatic
mission has to be considered in connection with a number of factors.”^34
These public statements, confi dential remarks, and diplomatic gestures
clearly indicate the thinking of the government and its willingness to
recognize Israel. They also underscore the delicacy with which Nehru
approached the issue.
The inordinate Indian delay, however, irritated Israeli offi cials. Walter
Eytan, who aspired to be Israel’s fi rst ambassador to India,^35 summed up
the general feeling that prevailed in the diplomatic community.