320/12–1851: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
priority
Gadel 502. Re Kashmir. Further to Gadel 488. While Dept appreciates content Dec 22 report1 must be determined by Graham and [Page 1920] based his estimate his further utility, believes USDel shld indicate to him Dept’s hope he wld consider importance not presenting a report that wld force GOI into position of having comment publicly before elections on demilitarization plan which he and Devers have worked out. One way accomplish this is avoid SC action until after Xmas recess perhaps by indicating in Dec 22 report supplementary report likely in two or three weeks on recommendations per para 4 Nov 10 res Graham intends to make. Basis info available India cannot be expected depart from present public attitude on Kashmir until after elections if at all, and GOP recognizing this prepared put up with this situation.
If Graham eventually makes recommendations re demilitarization plan and SC adopts in form res, Dept presently of opinion Graham’s further service might be needed to counsel parties re their acceptance.
- Graham’s second report to the Security Council was actually presented on December 18 (S/2448). In the report he indicated that while some progress had been made toward enlarging the area of agreement between India and Pakistan, two principal points of difference remained: (1) the size of forces to be left on either side of the cease-fire line at the end of the demilitarization period and (2) the day on which the Government of India would agree to the formal appointment to office of the Plebiscite Administrator. With the approval of the Security Council given Mm on January 31, 1952, Graham returned to the subcontinent for a third series of negotiations in March.↩