690D.91/11–552: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Pakistan1
682. Re Kashmir. Agreement has been reached with UK on res to be presented to SC Nov 6. Res sponsored by US and UK but will be tabled by UK Rep who also will give and explain text to Ind Pak Reps today. US will speak after parties. Text follows:2
“The SC
Recalling its resolutions of Mar 30, 1951, Apr 30, 1951 and Nov 10, 1951;
Further recalling the provisions of the UNComm for India and Pak resolutions of 13 Aug, 1948 and 5 Jan, 1949 which were accepted by the Govts of India and Pak and which provided that the question of the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pak will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the UN;
Having received the third report dated 22 Apr, 1952 and the fourth report dated 16 Sept, 1952 of the UNRep for India and Pak;
Endorses the general principles on which the UNRep has sought to bring about agreement between the Govts of India and Pak;
Notes with gratification that the UNRep has reported that the Govts of India and Pak have accepted all but two of the paras of his twelve point proposals;
Notes that agreement on a plan of demilitarization of the State of Jammu and Kashmir has not been reached because the Govts of India and Pak have not agreed on the whole of para 7 of the twelve point proposals;
Urges the Govts of India and Pak to enter immediate negotiations at the headquarters of the UN in order to reach agreement on the specific number of forces to remain on each side of the cease fire line at the end of the period of demilitarization, this number to be between 3,000 and 6,000 armed forces remaining on the Pak side of the cease fire line and between 12,000 and 18,000 armed forces remaining on the India side of the cease fire line, as suggested by the UNRep in his proposals of 16th July, 1952 (annex III of S/2783) such specific numbers to be arrived at bearing in mind the principles of criteria contained in para 7 of the UNRep’s proposal of 4th Sept, 1952 (annex VIII of S/2783);
Records its gratitude to the UNRep for India and Pak for the great efforts which he has made to achieve a settlement and requests him to continue to make his services available to the Govts of India and Pak to this end;
Requests the Govts of India and Pak to report to the SC not later than 30 days from the date of the adoption of this res and further requests the UNRep for India and Pak to keep the SC informed of any progress.”
Dept has been working in consultation with UK for weeks in effort evolve res which wld meet honest and fundamental conviction each party it morally and legally right and at same time wld provide basis for contd negots leading ultimately settlement acceptable both Govts. Dept has urged res which wld present alternatives of acceptance of specific figures for armed forces or of negotiating on basis Graham’s Sept 4 proposals. This shld have enabled parties either to arrive almost immed at agreement or to continue negots if they unwilling accept specific figures. UK argued parties wld become deadlocked on alternatives and in any event use of criteria without specifying troop limits wld enable India avoid agreement.
To facilitate SC consideration and recognizing special UK interest Dept agreed support UK res which is based on Graham’s twelve pt proposals, consolidates areas of agreement already reached and implicitly recognizes India’s concern for security of state yet stipulates limits for armed forces which shld be acceptable to Pak.
Dept convinced that given sincere desire for settlement by both parties, present res shld offer opportunity and instrument for agreement.
In view relative failure earnest efforts by SC over period four years since cease fire agreed on, reps both govts being informed sponsors of res are giving serious thought to question of seeking advice from GA if no agreement reached by end 30 day period.
Foregoing for your info and use at your discretion if questioned.
- This telegram was repeated to New Delhi as telegram 1353.↩
- For the text of the joint draft resolution as submitted to the Security Council by the Representatives of the United States and United Kingdom on Nov. 5, see UN docs. 2839 and Corr. 1. The joint draft resolution as amended (S/2883) was adopted on Dec. 23, 1952; for the text, see p. 1310.↩