689.90D3/5–2451: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Pakistan 1
priority
785. Dept believes impossible delay longer informing Afghan Govt re Pak position Nov 16 [6] approach and proposes two alternatives: (a) Transmit Pak memo May 15 (first para Embtel 1077 May 16) informing GOA this in our view a counter proposal or (b) inform GOA that GOP has not found it possible accept by this date Nov 16 [6] proposal and therefore our suggestion is hereby withdrawn. GOP wld be informed at same time this withdrawal.
Dept desires Pak indication which alternative it prefers by May 29 but believes it will be necessary to proceed in accordance with (b) if no reply received by that date.
Position of US in offering its Good Offices inconsistent with proposed exchange of letters involving any agreement or understanding on part of US and therefore unable accept Pak letter of May 15 even with clarifications.
Dept believes it wld be helpful if it cld inform if memo transmitted GOA that GOP by language its memo did not intend preclude Pak Amb Kabul discussing matters of common concern.
Inform Dept soonest. Kabul to be instructed by Dept.
- Repeated for information to Kabul as 290 priority, and to London by air.↩