357.AB/7–1752
Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Sandifer) to the Secretary of State1
Subject:
- Present Status of the Kashmir Dispute
On July 16, Dr. Graham proposed to the United Nations Delegations of Pakistan and India that their two governments designate representatives at the Ministerial level to meet with him in Geneva in an effort to reach formal agreement on a demilitarization program for Kashmir.2 Dr. Graham proposes that, at the meeting which would start the last week in July, he would submit to the two governments a draft agreement for their approval. This draft agreement would incorporate the points of Dr. Graham’s demilitarization program to which, as a result of past negotiation, the two governments have agreed. It would also include Dr. Graham’s suggestions concerning the number and the nature of troops which should remain on each side of the present cease-fire line at the end of the demilitarization period, and would establish the date when the Plebiscite Administrator Designate (Admiral Nimitz) would be installed and would commence preparations for the Plebiscite. Dr. Graham is proposing with regard to the troops question that the Indian forces be established at a figure between twelve and eighteen thousand troops and the troops on the Pakistan side of the cease-fire line be established at a figure of three and six thousand.
As you know, Pakistan recently submitted a proposal of its own to Nehru through Ambassador Bowles concerning the level of troops. We believed that the Pakistan offer which provided for approximately [Page 1283] the same ratio of troops in favor of India, but which required the immediate installation of the Plebiscite Administrator, was reasonable. Ambassador Bowles pressed Nehru for a favorable reply. Nehru refused to discuss the proposal, maintained the previous Indian position on the number and the nature of troops, and suggested that negotiations between the two governments continue through Dr. Graham.
In the event that Dr. Graham’s new effort fails we presume that the Kashmir question will be the subject of early consideration by the Security Council at which time we and the British will undoubtedly be under pressure from Pakistan for an Article 37 resolution (whereby the Council recommends “Such terms of settlement as it may consider appropriate”). In the debate we will, of course, be largely governed by Dr. Graham’s recommendations, and our consultations with the United Kingdom.