501.BC/10–548: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in India
602. If Nehru’s Invitation forthcoming (Delga 172, rptd New Delhi as 4)1 pls discuss with colleagues dipcorps ascertain their views re acceptance. Keep Dept currently informed this question and request final instructions prior taking any formal action.
Dept feels dipcorps tour Hyderabad undertaken on unilateral invitation GOI in Delhi would be ineffective substitute UN participation in plebiscite or UN investigation and might set undesirable precedent. GOI apparently does not intend invite or acquiesce any UN action along these lines and it appears unlikely SC will itself take such action. Danger therefore exists dipcorps visit would be interpreted India and elsewhere as representing some kind of international approval India’s actions re Hyderabad since members dipcorps would not be in position counteract impression by critical public statements.
We recognize, however, you probably not in position refuse invitation if general will dipcorps is accept. In that case you should make clear and seek persuade colleagues make clear GOI that visit undertaken as individual representatives govts and not as international group to observe conditions and not on behalf of or in representation of UN. Ur discretion you may suggest to colleagues that in view foregoing they should avoid making any public statements on results visit.
Should GOI propose in SC use dipcorps Delhi as some kind UN agency for Hyderabad investigation, we should look more favorably on it as approximating our original suggestions.
- Telegram 172, September 30, from Paris, not printed, stated that a member of the Indian Delegation had, that same day, informed the U.S. Delegation that Nehru was inviting the New Delhi diplomatic corps to Hyderabad to inspect the situation there (501.BC/9–3048).↩