357.AB/9–1451
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Howard Meyers of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs, and Mr. Frank D. Collins of the Office of South Asian Affairs
| Participants: | Mr. Robert Fowler, UK Delegation to the UN; |
| Mr. Ronald Belcher, First Secretary of British Embassy; | |
| Mr. James Hyde—US Delegation to the UN; | |
| UNP—Mr. Eric Stein; Mr. Howard Meyers; | |
| SOA—Mr. William Witman; Mr. F. D. Collins |
The UK representatives were given in confidence the thirteen point proposal which Dr. Graham has submitted to both India and Pakistan. It was explained that the US believed that this approach was different from anything which had been attempted before in that it appeared designed to draw out the parties’ attitudes, on the basic elements of the dispute. It would be difficult for either party to disagree completely with all the points. Thus, this may provide a useful means to narrow differences between the parties on particular points. The UK Representatives, after reading the various points outlined by Dr. Graham, were of the opinion that they afforded room for moving ahead in the Security Council discussions, and that it may be possible to negotiate between the parties on this basis. In the event this line of approach proved unfruitful, the Security Council could then consider other approaches, such as a reference to the General Assembly.
Mr. Hyde recommended that Dr. Graham’s terms of reference be broadened so that he might negotiate not only on Kashmir but on other problems such as the water rights issue, etc., and that consideration be given to having the Security Council send the Peace Observation [Page 1848] Committee to the area and also to stationing POC observers along the East–West Indo-Pakistan borders. Mr. Hyde explained that it was USUN’s opinion that such action would partially offset the action of the Constituent Assembly and would lessen the tension caused by recent troop concentrations.
It was agreed that certain advantages would accrue from having Dr. Graham continue with negotiations, and that it might be advisable at a future date to request that the POC be dispatched to the area. The UK Representatives thought that the POC should be used only if there was renewed tension on the borders. Mr. Fowler remarked that unless some signs of progress could be detected, it might not prove fruitful to have him continue indefinitely negotiations with the parties. The preferable line might be to continue to apply pressure against India through a reference of the issue to the General Assembly, if Graham’s further negotiations showed after a couple months that he could not make adequate progress.