501.BC Kashmir/4–2049: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
449. British High Commissioner1 yesterday told me that Bajpai2 in conversation on April 18 had been quite critical of UNCIP because it showed weakness, vacillation and hesitancy, grapple firmly with problems facing it. I consider Bajpai’s criticism really unfair since GOI, by its delaying tactics shares responsibility for UNCIP’s failure thus far in producing truce agreement. I saw Bajpai briefly April 18 as he was preparing to depart for London. Lozano of UNCIP was just leaving his office. Bajpai opened our conversation by stating his unhappiness re recent Kashmir developments. Pakistan was displaying extreme stubbornness and determination stick to the letter existing agreements, rather than cooperative spirit displayed by both sides at time of cease-fire. For instance Pakistan Avas insisting truce agreement not mention disposition Azad forces. Technically they could probably defend this attitude. Nevertheless elimination this thorny problem in truce agreement would have been helpful over long term. India’s decisions regarding withdrawal must be based to extent on disposition Azad forces.
Bajpai also referred to situation Northern Kashmir where he said apparently Pakistanis, in withdrawing from certain territory had left arms with groups friendly to Pakistan. These groups could therefore dominate this territory unless India permitted introduce at several points forces for maintaining local law and order. UNCIP did not wish Indian forces to enter this territory, on ground that their entry might be resisted by the Pakistan organized groups. India regarded organization by Pakistan of such groups as contrary to spirit of standing agreements.
Bajpai showed me copy of India’s reply to UNCIP which was long and involved and which I hesitate to outline since it can be described more precisely by American member of UNCIP. Reply was, for most part, of negative character. Bajpai indicated during our conversation, without saying so categorically, that it would be impossible sign truce agreement before return Nehru3 about May 7. I made no comments to Bajpai’s complaints other than to express regret at slowness of negotiations since I feel that we should not enter into discussions which fail in UNCIP’s field.