611.80/5–2953
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
[Extract]
1India, ST D–8/2
Subject:
- India
Participants:
- Prime Minister Nehru
- Secretary Dulles
. . . . . . .
2. Mr. Nehru brought up the subject of the Korean armistice, referring particularly to my statement of the preceding day, that if there was no armistice hostilities might become more intense. He said that if this happened it would be difficult to know what the end might be. He urged withdrawal of our armistice proposals inconsistent with the Indian resolutions, notably the provision regarding Korean POWs and unanimity. He agreed that there should be some provision for ultimate freeing of the POWs not desiring to be repatriated, stating that it would be an “impossible situation,” for them to rot away with no end to their incarceration. I said that our formula was designed to meet that situation plus the likelihood that the communists would not accept the Indian resolution that future of POWs be referred finally to UN Assembly. Nehru agreed that this would probably be unacceptable because of communist China’s absence from the UN. He made no alternate proposal. He brought up again my reference to intensified operations, but I made no comment and allowed the topic to drop.
. . . . . . .
- Nehru and Dulles also discussed the following topics: the Egyptian situation; Africa, anticolonialism, and Laos; Kashmir; Indian concern over Pakistan as a member of MEDO; and the conflict between the British and Saudi Arabia over British protectorates, particularly Buraimi. The full text of this memorandum of conversation is scheduled for publication in volume ix.↩
- This meeting took place at Nehru’s residence. Later in the day, Dulles flew on to Pakistan.↩