690D.91/12–2351: Telegram
The Chargé in Pakistan (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
644. In conversation with me today re second Graham report, FonMin Zafrulla gave it as his “personal opinion, without commitment” that Graham’s recommendations on the wording of the four of his twelve proposals on which India and Pak had not agreed, wld in gen be acceptable to Pak provided number of armed forces to remain on each side of cease-fire line was specified not as “the lowest possible number” but as some definite total. He did not have authoritative figures on the number of troops on each side of the line on Jan 1, 1949, but he had been given estimates of about three Ind to two Pak, and if this were the approx proportion Pak wld not object to Graham’s formula.
He thought Ind wld accept Jul 15, 1952 as date for complete demilitarization, but whether it wld agree to appoint a plebiscite administrator by that date was another question. Pak regards naming of admin on or before that date as absolutely vital.
Zafrulla said he did not think any useful purpose wld be served by again prolonging Graham’s mediatory effort. He thought a point had now been reached from which further progress cld be made only if SC were to adopt a demilitarization program of its own and call upon the parties to implement it with the assistance of a UN rep.
With respect to the schedule for SC consideration of Graham’s report. Zafrulla was noncommittal. He said he had discussed the subj in Paris with Gross and Eden, and had told latter that substance of any draft res which UK prepared wld be more important to Pak than [Page 1925] the speed with which it was handled. My impression is that while Pak may continue for the record to press for quick action, it will have no real objection to postponement of discussion until Ind elections are out of the way.
Zafrulla is leaving tomorrow for Lahore to see his family but will come back to Karachi before returning to Paris in early Jan. He has discussed Kashmir with the PriMin but there has as yet been no formal cab consideration of the question in the light of Graham’s latest report.
Rptd information New Delhi 64, London 40, Paris 4 for USUN.