501.BC Kashmir/8–2448: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative on the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (Huddle), at New Delhi
512. Kascom 21. USUN is informed that SYG is about to ask each member SC to furnish two observers for Kashmir cease-fire. Circumstances surrounding this request are set forth in separate telegram from USUN to Dept,1 being relayed to you.
Dept considers question of observers of considerable political importance. Although number now being requested appears small, basis for meeting present request would become more significant if eventual number of observers is greatly increased. Important elements in problem of furnishing observers for Kashmir are: (1) remoteness of Kashmir and great expense involved in providing large numbers of personnel and considerable equipment from outside; (2) special experience of British with area and peoples involved; (3) experience of Muslim and Hindu troops in operating together prior to partition of India; (4) conditions in Kashmir exposing it to those whose primary objective would be to make trouble.
Dept would prefer not to make issue in SC on the selection of observers and would hope that a workable arrangement could be made by the Commission itself. Our preference would be to use British observers, assisted by truce teams furnished by military personnel from Indian and Pakistani armies. Kashmir Commission might be able to arrange such observation either on basis of consultation with India and Pakistan or on basis of decision of Commission itself. As minimum, Commission might ask British to make twenty observers [Page 370] available as a temporary measure pending further development of negotiations on the cease-fire.
We understand that Kashmir Commission has not acted officially on this matter and that Chairman and Secretary of Commission might be acting in anticipation of Commission decision. Please inform Dept present status this matter in Commission and any comments which might help Dept in deciding what instruction should be furnished you on this point.
- Telegram 1057, August 24, from Ambassador Austin, not printed.↩