UNP Files: Lot 59 D 237
The Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson) to the Acting United States Representative at the United Nations (Gross)
Dear Ernie: Your letter of October 2, concerning your confidential talk with Frank Graham, was reassuring to both NEA and ourselves. We were all very much heartened by both the disclosure of Dr. Graham’s ideas on future action in this perplexing dispute and, particularly, by the indication of his willingness to continue in the picture. The fact that as perceptive a person as Frank Graham is willing to continue to act as the United Nations Representative gives me hope that there is still some possibility of arriving at a reasonable settlement of the Kashmir problem.
When you get in touch with Dr. Graham, as you have said he expects you to do, please let him know that we generally favor his preferred course outlined in your letter, and that we are delighted he appears willing to continue to be of service to the United Nations in attempting to advance the Kashmir dispute along the lines he has suggested. We are deeply impressed by the amicable relationship he established with Nehru, particularly because his personal relations with the Indian Prime Minister are clearly a factor in making any progress towards solving the Kashmir problem.
We are interested in an explanation of two points in Dr. Graham’s program:
- a.
- Does the 90-day period for completing demilitarization include the drafting of the demilitarization plan by the Representatives of both governments, or does Dr. Graham want an indefinite period during which the Indian and Pakistan Representatives would draft the demilitarization plan—with the 90-day period assigned to the carrying out of this demilitarization plan?
- b.
- If the Indian and Pakistan Representatives are unable to work out the practical details of demilitarization, does Dr. Graham’s plan envisage that the United Nations Representative would settle any disagreements on these details or himself work out a demilitarization plan on the basis of the UNCIP resolutions?
Incidentally, I note that the whole Graham plan continues to drive hard toward a state-wide plebiscite, and I cannot help but wonder what is in Dr. Graham’s mind concerning the next step if his present approach outlined in your letter does not work.
[Page 1875]Both NEA and ourselves greatly appreciate your efforts to convince Dr. Graham he should present his report to the Security Council in New York not later than October 15, even though the report might not be translated and he would have to make an oral presentation. We do think it most important that there be a Security Council meeting on Kashmir as soon as feasible, and this belief is buttressed by Dr. Graham’s own estimate of the situation reflected in his strong feeling that the dispute will, if unsettled much longer, lead to war in the subcontinent.
Karachi’s telegram 364 of October 41 reporting Liaquat Ali Khan’s concern over the effect in Pakistan of delay in presentation of the report points up the urgency of the earliest possible action.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩