Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 1

501.BC Kashmir/11–2348: Telegram

The Acting Chairman of the United States Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly (Dulles) to the Secretary of State

secret   urgent

Paris, November 23, 1948—10 p. m.

Delga 900. We learned late today that president SC¹ has called SC meeting for afternoon November 24 to consider: (1) Hyderabad question (in response Zafrulla Khan’s request be heard on this issue²); (2) the UNCIP interim report; and (3) Zafrulla Khan’s letter November 20 delivered UNCIP for transmission president SC re alleged Indian military activities Kashmir.³ Calling of SC meeting by Arce re Hyderabad had been anticipated but GADel had not expected open SC session on Kashmir especially after discussion November 22 between Lozano, chairman UNCIP and Arce in which Lozano understood it had been decided that it might be useful to have early SC closed meeting together with UNCIP for candid exchange views on future action towards Kashmir settlement.

We inclined believe Arce’s action probably responsive strong UK pressure past two weeks for early SC meeting on Kashmir.

This connection when our last views re SC action Kashmir were conveyed Cadogan (UK) November 22 (Delga 880), he said he would communicate London. While not wholly content with our point of view he did not raise violent objection. He did, however, raise following questions:

1. Is it wise at once to proceed under Chapter VII?

2. Are there not provisions in the truce arrangements of the resolution of August 13 which we would not want insist upon at this time?

3. What individuals are available to fill the places of military adviser and plebiscite administrator?

We deduce from foregoing that UK must have in mind SC call to parties for immediate and unconditional cease-fire under Chapter VI and that they are not kept [sic] on August 13 provision re withdrawal Pakistan troops.

Our feeling here is that keeping Department suggestions, Delga 880, in mind as possible basis eventual SC action, we should at this stage endeavor in agreement with UK and other interested members SC limit action to request by SC to UNGIP that: (1) it investigate GOP allegations re military situation (UNCIP might be able do this through immediate appointment military adviser who would proceed India as quickly as possible) and (2) that UNCIP, in view its painstaking and careful work in sphere of cease-fire, truce, and plebiscite, submit to SC within a few days its conclusions or recommendations as to what action SC should take towards peaceful settlement Kashmir problem.

Department will appreciate that foregoing line at variance with probable UK insistence on immediate and unconditional cease-fire, but since present UK approach Kashmir problem appears extremely pro-GOP as against middle ground which we have sought to follow, it would seem necessary for us to continue adhere our present line, and we shall do what we can to achieve common ground with UK if at all possible to do so without breaking away from our carefully considered neutral path between GOI and GOP.

Related to question British views, on method settling Kashmir dispute, is the urgent need crystallize our thinking on military adviser and plebiscite administrator, especially latter. Cadogan’s third question, paragraph 3 pertinent here. Belgian representative UNCIP has already informally mentioned possible availability Belgian general for military adviser. Filling plebiscite administrator position will be much more difficult since all concerned favor man of very high calibre and international prominence. While important Commonwealth figure an attractive idea, we are inclined doubt acceptability parties such individual and strongly recommended Department gives serious consideration approaching such US personalities as Admiral Nimitz, General Wainwright or Stassen⁴ as preliminary and tentative move towards filling this important gap.

We would appreciate Department’s views as to soundness path we propose follow as outlined paragraph 5. Department will note that essential theme this approach is to build on foundations already established by UNCIP.

Dulles

1. José Arce, Representative of Argentina at the Third General Session of the United Nations and President of the Security Council during November.
2. For text of letter dated October 6 from Zafrullah Khan to the President of the Security Council, see SC, 3rd yr., No. 127, p. 28.
3. The proposed meeting was held on November 25, at which time the Council received the Commission’s interim report (S/1100) and discussed the military situation in Kashmir. Discussion of the Hyderabad question was postponed. For proceedings of the November 25 meeting, see SC, 3rd yr., No. 127, pp. 1–29.
4. Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy since 1947; Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright, retired Commander of the Fourth Army; Harold E. Stassen, a candidate in 1948 for the Republican Presidential nomination and President of the University of Pennsylvania.