690D.91/7–S52; Telegram
The Ambassador in Pakistan (Warren) to the Department of State1
23. Immediately upon receipt of Dept’s nr. 31, July 4, 4 p.m., I saw PriMin and FonMin separately this a.m. They said as assumptions in para 1 are correct and understand that I am to tel Amb Bowles immediately so that under the Dept’s authorization he may see Nehru on this matter. Zafrulla said that if Bowles transmits the Pakistan offer without first sounding out Nehru on his willingness to agree to the immediate appointment of the pleb administrator, there is little likelihood of GOI’s acceptance of the proposal. The suggestion from both the PriMin and Zafrulla is that Bowles shld first ascertain if Nehru is willing to agree to the immed formal designation of the pleb admin, provided an agreement can be reached on the quantum of troops. If Nehru is not prepared to agree to the appointment, then the Paks are [Page 1271] unwilling for Bowles to present their four to one offer on troop proportions in Ind-held Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. On the other hand if Nehru expresses a willingness to agree to the pleb admins formal appointment immed, provided an agreement can be reached on troop quantum, he may then present the Pak offer. The Paks feel that if Nehru is not prepared to come down to a maximum of 15,000 (excluding the 6,000 militia) then their offer of a four to one proportion (excluding the 3,500 northern scouts) cannot be made.
Zafrulla added that in case Bowles’ overtures are not successful, then the Paks feel Graham must be prepared to recommend to the SC (1) an immed formal appointment of the pleb administrator and (2) a quantum of forces at this stage to be in proportion to the cease-fire numbers as Devers may determine.
- This telegram was repeated for information to London and New York.↩