Office of the Historian

501.BC Kashmir/9–849: Telegram

The Chargé in Pakistan (Wolf) to the Secretary of State

top secret
priority
Karachi, September 8, 1949.

379. To Director of Intelligence USAF, Washington, D.C., Kab 23, pass to State Department as 379. At 8 p. m. this evening at my residence Foreign Office Protocol Officer handed me personally an original letter to President signed by Prime Minister at 7:45 p. m. accepting on behalf of his government latest proposals of UNCIP for arbitration truce agreement relating to state of Jammu and Kashmir by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He requested me to open and read it in his presence, which I did. He then asked me to cable at once its contents to my government and requested that the Department should provide the Pakistan Ambassador immediately with a copy so that the latter might request an opportunity formally to present such copy of the letter to the Secretary of State pending delivery of the original to the President. He emphasized that the matter was to be considered urgent and top secret and that it was the wish of Pakistan that no publicity should be given even to the fact that the Prime Minister had replied to the President until UNCIP had received reply of Pakistan to its proposals and had given publicity thereto. Pakistan’s Ambassador will receive similar instructions re secrecy from Foreign Minister.

1.
The text of the letter reads as follows: “My Dear Mr. President, I thank you for your message of August 30, 1949, urging the acceptance of the recommendation by the United Nations Commission to refer to arbitration the determination of the truce agreement relating to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistan Government greatly appreciates the keen interest you have shown to the early settlement of the Kashmir dispute, which has been pending for so long between India and Pakistan. I agree with you that the Kashmir dispute is the greatest threat to peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan which are essential to the maintenance and continuance of social and political progress in the sub-continent.
2.
The geographical and strategic position of Kashmir in relation to Pakistan, the flow of its rivers, the direction of its roads, the channels of its trade, the historical, economic and cultural ties which bind its [Page 1741] peoples to Pakistan, link Kashmir indissolutely with Pakistan. Nature has so to speak fashioned the two together. Pakistan could, therefore, have claimed in reason that Kashmir should accede to Pakistan without question. From the very beginning, however, Pakistan’s stand has been that the dispute should be peacefully settled through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite of the citizens of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, India has sought to coerce Kashmir into the Indian Union by force of arms and is today in military occupation of the greater part of the more populous areas of Jammu and Kashmir against the will of its people.
3.
No doubt India has paid lip service to the principle of a plebiscite but in practice she has throughout obstructed every attempt on the part, first of the Security Council and later on of the United Nations Commission to define and establish the conditions that would guarantee a fair and impartial plebiscite. Pakistan’s efforts have been directed towards securing and promoting these conditions. One of the essential conditions for organizing and holding a fair and impartial plebiscite is the withdrawal of the Indian armed forces from the territories of the state. India has hitherto resisted every effort made by Security Council and later on by the United Nations Commission to bring about that result and difficulties that the Commission has lately encountered in promoting an agreement on the truce terms are related mainly to this aspect of the problem. Having been baffled almost at every turn in securing India’s agreement to truce terms based on part 2 of the Commission’s resolution of 13 August, 1948, the Commission has now made its latest proposal for arbitration.
4.
My government have naturally given the most earnest and sympathetic consideration both to the terms of the proposal itself and the message that you have sent to me. Had the proposal not hinged round the eminent personality of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and had it not been so emphatically sponsored by the President of the United States my government would have felt considerable hesitation in accepting it mainly on the score that the decision of any other arbitrator on the points in dispute between the parties relating to the truce might have been rendered of no effect by India’s failure to implement it in practice. We feel, however, that that apprehension is largely met by the qualities and personality of the proposed arbitrator and may be taken to be completely eliminated by the keen interest that you are taking and will, I hope, continue henceforth to take in this matter. We rely upon Admiral Nimitz supported by your great authority to ensure that his decision shall be faithfully and promptly carried into effect so that he can immediately proceed towards the definition and assumption of the powers that he considers necessary for the organization and holding of a free and impartial plebiscite, powers that are guaranteed to him by the Commission’s resolution of 5 January 1949.
5.
As you have remarked, Asia is today in the midst of a great social and political revolution. The direction and outcome of that revolution will be determined by the faith which the people of Asia acquire in the practical efficacy of the democratic principles for which the United Nations stands. A just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute accordance with the frequent expressed wishes [Page 1742] of its people will be a vindication of those high principles and a reaffirmation of the faith of the people of Asia in the cause of democracy.
6.

In view of these considerations, I am glad, Mr. President, to inform you that my government have accepted the latest proposal of the United Nations Commission for arbitration of the truce agreement by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Will you please accept my best wishes for your continued health and success, and for the welfare of your great country and people. Yours sincerely,”

The original of letter will be transmitted by courier leaving Karachi Friday, September 9. Embassy not yet informed re reply to Attlee.

Wolf