Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI, Part 2

689.90D/1–1251: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Gifford ) to the Secretary of State

confidential

London , January 12, 1951—8 p. m.

3886. Deptel 3358, January 11.¹ Embassy today informed Murray of Department’s views re tripartite talks. Murray said FonOff would bear in mind in connection any conversations between Bevin and Liaquat this subject. So far as he knew, no discussion this problem had yet taken place between two PM’s although at yesterday’s PM meeting,² matter received passing attention in connection survey of Asian problems. Bevin referred to Afghan–Pakistan dispute as one on which Commonwealth should draw together. Liaquat followed this by expressing concurrence and indicating indirectly that India had been somewhat less than helpful in matter. Problem was inconclusively left at that. Murray said FonOff still hopeful Bevin will tackle Liaquat alone in effort persuade him adopt favorable approach US proposals.³

Repeated information Kabul 12, Karachi 54, Delhi 117.

Gifford

1. Telegram 3358 to London not printed, but see footnote 5, p. 1932.
2. The annual Conference of British Commonwealth Prime Ministers had been in progress in London since January 4.
3. Telegram 3989, from London, January 18, not printed, reported that Liaquat had delayed his return to Karachi until January 19, that he would have a private conversation with Bevin on January 18, and that the South-East Asia Department of the British Foreign Office had recommended that Bevin take the opportunity to urge him to accept the U.S. proposals for Afghan–Pakistan conversations (689.90D/1–1851).