795.00/5–1553: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
4143. I called on Pillai again today at his request re Korea. He said Nehru had asked him to let me know that India was making representations in Peking expressing hope that armistice negotiations would not be broken off and he wished to express same very earnest hope to us. Pillai said Nehru also wanted to repeat again as emphatically as he could his conviction that chances of success in negotiations were in direct ratio to nearness of proposals to UNGA December resolution.
I asked Pillai what deviations from UNGA resolution in your proposals caused greatest difficulty in his opinion. He said three came immediately [Page 1029] to mind. First was immediate release of Korean POW’s who did not wish to return. Second was provision for unanimity. Third was proposal to release remaining non-repatriated prisoners at the end of sixty days without reference to political Conference. He thought Peking might consider other deviations equally important. Pillai mentioned that change of name from Repatriation Commission to Custodial Commission might not seem important but offered one more opportunity for prolonging debate.
As regards unanimity I pointed out that we had suggested this feature in belief it would facilitate India’s role. He said Nehru understood and appreciated this factor but that nevertheless it was striking deviation from UNGA resolution.
Comment: It seems probable that since GOI has had opportunity to think our proposals over, they regard our insistence on unanimity as being based not so much on effort to make India’s job easier as on lack of confidence in India’s impartiality. This view has doubtless been strengthened by press reports of General Harrison’s statement that Communists “may aspire to be able to use enough pressure to control a majority”. Despite Harrison’s expression of sympathy for India’s position, his remarks made unfavorable impression on Indians.
Embassy is inclined to think Nehru’s repeated pleas for return to UNGA resolution may be based on some understanding he had with Peking last November that Indian resolution was acceptable to Peking. Closer our proposals are in accord with GA resolution better position India will be in to urge Peking to accept.