745.45F/10–2748

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Counselor of the Department of State (Bohlen)

top secret
Participants: The Secretary
Dr. Jessup
Mr. Bohlen
Mr. Ernest Bevin
Sir Alexander Cadogan
Mr. Roberts1
Mr. Dean

Mr. Bevin said that he was going to see Nehru again this morning but that he wished to tell the Secretary in confidence that he was not optimistic at the prospect of India and Pakistan reaching any settlement in the Kashmir matter. He said in London they had been unsuccessful in obtaining from Nehru any very clear indication of what the Indians would accept, particularly in regard to the conditions of any plebiscite. Nehru continued to say that he was not against the idea of a plebiscite but was unwilling to commit himself as to its terms. On the other hand he felt that the Pakistan representatives were being much more reasonable in this matter, but that Nehru since he was a Kashmir Hindu was very emotional and intransigent on this subject. He said he felt that the main issue was who would control the main artery leading into central Asia. The Indian proposals would leave that in their hands and this was something that Pakistan found difficult to accept. He very much feared that next spring the Indians, encouraged by the success of their operation against Hyderabad, would start fighting in Kashmir in the spring and that this might open up considerable possibilities to the Russians to exploit the situation in order to obtain a foothold in northern India. He promised to let the Secretary know the result of his conversation with Nehru this morning.

The Secretary told Mr. Bevin that it had been suggested from Washington that he see Nehru again but that he was not entirely convinced that it would be wise for him to give the appearance of pressing Nehru on this matter.

  1. Frank K. Roberts, British Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Bevin).