Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

Secretary’s Memoranda, Lot 53 D 444

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Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

restricted

[Washington,] September 15, 1949.

Participants:	Sir Zafrulla Khan, Pakistan Foreign Minister
	Mr. M. A. H. Ispahani, Pakistan Ambassador
	Mr. Acheson—S
	Mr. McGhee—NEA
	Mr. Fox—SOA

Sir Zafrulla and Ambassador Ispahani called this afternoon at their request. Sir Zafrulla said that he had come to talk to me mainly about Kashmir. He said that in view of India’s unfavorable response to the UNCIP proposal for arbitration the Government of Pakistan was very concerned over the outlook for a settlement. Pakistan felt that India was resisting every attempt to move forward toward a fair plebiscite. He was afraid now that there would be interminable delay, during which time there was danger that some indiscreet act on one side or the other would touch fire to an atmosphere that was becoming explosive. He said that Pakistan had not hesitated in accepting the UNCIP proposal for arbitration. In this dispute Pakistan thought that India was wrong; but India believed that Pakistan was wrong, and arbitration, therefore, was called for. He said that Pakistan relies upon the eminent personality of Admiral Nimitz to ensure that a fair settlement is faithfully carried into effect; and that, since this is now supported by the great authority of the President, he hoped that we would endeavor to press for a quick settlement.

I replied that this Government shared Pakistan’s concern in this matter, as was evidenced by the President’s letter. I said that we were very pleased over Pakistan’s acceptance of the arbitration proposal, and greatly disappointed by the reply we had received from India. I continued to the effect that we were not yet certain, however, that India has completely rejected the arbitration proposal, and that so long as there was any possibility that India might accept we hoped that no one would release any statements that might tend to make the Government of India more firm in its refusal.

Sir Zafrulla then said that a second point he wished to mention to me was the issue that had arisen between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the status of the Frontier tribes; and he then reviewed at some length the background of this controversy and the attitude of the Government of Pakistan toward it. He indicated that Pakistan was at a loss to understand clearly what Afghanistan wanted, or how Pakistan could best approach a settlement.

1. Lot 53 D 444 is a comprehensive chronological collection of the Secretary of State’s memoranda and memoranda of conversation for the years 1947–1953, as maintained by the Executive Secretariat of the Department of State.