501.BC Kashmir/8–2549: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India 1
priority
592. Fol is text appeal by Pres Truman which you shld deliver to respective PriMins GOI GOP shortly fol presentation by UNCIP to those Govts of its arbitration proposal, if possible on same day. Shld [Page 1734] PriMins be unavailable msg shld be delivered FonOffs not later than 24 hours after Comm’s presentation its proposal.
Begin verbatim text
My dear Mr. Prime Minister:
The UN Comm for India and Pakistan has recommended that your Govt and the Govt of (Pakistan) (India) refer to arbitration the determination of truce terms in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.2 Because of the great importance which my Govt attaches to an early settlement of the Kashmir dispute, I am addressing this message to you in that connection.
Asia is today in the midst of a great social and polit revolution. Unhappily, that revolution has in most areas been attended by widespread violence which has disrupted the lives of tens of millions of peoples and the economies of whole nations. In the Indian subcontinent, by contrast, essential changes have been and are being made with only localized disturbances, quickly brought under control. It is of crucial importance to the subcontinent, to Asia, and to the world as a whole that this peaceful and orderly progress be maintained.
You will, I am sure, agree that peace and cooperation between your country and (Pakistan) (India) are essential to the continuance of social and political progress in the subcontinent. The Kashmir dispute is the greatest threat to such peace and cooperation. My Govt is, therefore, deeply interested in an early peaceful settlement of this dispute.
Progress toward a peaceful settlement has been impeded during the last several months by the inability of your Govt and the Govt of (Pakistan) (India), with the assistance of the UN Comm, to agree through negot on the terms of a truce in Jammu and Kashmir. Without minimizing the issues which have prevented a negotiated truce agreement, I do venture the opinion that these are not so critical that they shld be permitted any longer to impede an advance toward the ultimate goal of an over-all solution of the Kashmir problem. The estab of a truce is in the nature of an intermediate step which will make it possible to give effect to the Commission’s Resolution of January 5, 1949.
In the interest of your own nation and in the interest of the world community, I urge you to accept the recommendation for arbitration of truce terms now placed before your Govt by the UN. I am addressing a similar communication to the Prime Minister of (Pakistan) (India).
Will you please accept my best wishes for your continued health and success, and for the welfare of your great country and people.
Sincerely yours, (signed) Harry S. Truman3
End verbatim text
- Repeated to Karachi as 301, London as 3604, and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as 439.↩
- For the text of the memorandum approved by the Commission on August 26, see SC, 4th yr., Special Suppl. No. 7, p. 141.↩
- Notation on file copy: “Text of message personally approved by the President July 11, 1949 on memorandum from the Secretary dated July 7, 1949.”↩