Office of the Historian

501.BC/1–448: Telegram

The Chargé in Pakistan (Lewis) to the Secretary of State

secret   immediate
Karachi, January 4, 1948—noon.

6. Liaquat Ali Khan has telegraphed1 Secretary General UN stating GOP has not yet seen India’s references which Delhi sent Karachi [Page 270] in undecipherable code but text expected by air today, impossible prepare case and place it before SC by sixth, that Foreign Minister Sir Zafrullah Khan will be sent as Pakistan’s chief delegate to present case before SC but is now in Burma to represent Pakistan in Burma independence celebrations. Prime Minister requests stay of proceedings “to give us reasonable time to prepare our case and to despatch our delegation”. Ispahani2 directed proceed New York and remain in touch with Secretary General (mytel 5, January 3).3

Ikramullah has expressed GOP’s hope US Govt will use its influence effect stay in proceedings Deptel 1, January 1 pending preparation case and despatch of representative.

Lewis
  1. For text of telegram dated January 3, see United Nations, Official Records of the Security Council, Third Year, Nos. 1–15, p. 4. Hereafter cited as SC, 3rd yr., Nos.↩
  2. Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani, Ambassador of Pakistan in the United States.↩
  3. Not printed.↩