690D.91/7–552: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations1
14. For Gross from Hickerson. Re Kashmir. In view of our plans to proceed with Pak request that we transmit GOP proposal re demilitarization and PlebAd to Nehru via Bowles and possibly obtain from Nehru agreement to proposals, we feel it important that you personally convey to Graham Monday AM our appreciation and belief this move by GOP in largest measure the result of his patient efforts to bring parties together by proposals made on their own initiative. That GOP has chosen this means of taking such initiative, we feel sure Graham appreciates, indicates GOP, intent on settling Kashmir question, decided it had to make move as Graham hoped it would, but for combination of reasons including internal political situation and general “face-saving” felt that this move should be conveyed to Nehru through informal channel.
We have undertaken this step with fullest appreciation of complications which may arise from negots proceeding in two channels simultaneously. We believe that this can be avoided by our confidentially keeping Graham fully informed of developments and, if he agrees, by his suspending his negots during these informal negots. We do not believe he need explain such suspension to either party until such time as he is informed that Bowles has presented GOP proposals to Nehru. He cld then informally say to Pak and Ind Reps in NY that he had learned that certain informal discussions on the problem had been initiated in subcontinent. He therefore wished to suspend negots in NY until outcome of discussions in subcontinent were known.
[Page 1272]Finally we wish to assure Graham that we are determined that GOP–GOI negots must return to UN forum at earliest opportunity.
- This telegram was repeated for information to New Delhi, Karachi, and London.↩