220. Telegram From the Embassy Office in Pakistan to the Department of State1
98. Indo-Pak crisis. Following is advance summary several major points raised by President Ayub during our 40 minute meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. September 21.2
Ayub’s apology for mob action against U.S. nationals and facilities,3 offer of restitution and assurances of future protection was earnest and categorical.
On cease fire he early made statement, “We don’t know what decision we will take tomorrow. We must see what major powers really intend doing. That is why we have sent Foreign Minister Bhutto to New York to find out.” Ayub said Bhutto was instructed on arrival during Tuesday night immediately to get in touch with Ambassador Goldberg and Soviet and other representatives of permanent members [Page 422] of the Security Council. Bhutto was to find out what steps will be taken to move forward with the negotiation for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute. “What are permanent members thinking of doing?”, Ayub repeated.
After presentation my message,4 Ayub expressed gratification. He assured me that he would consider things most carefully and would not do anything irresponsible. He said that while U.S. had direct interest in the outcome, Pakistan’s very existence was involved.
However, Ayub again stressed the need to have clarification on how U.S. and other permanent members “intended to proceed and how serious they are to assure a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute.” I could not shake him from the idea that he needed a special report from New York by Bhutto on these points before he could make his decision. Ayub said Bhutto would report to him by radio-phone before Security Council deadline for cease fire (3:00 a.m. Wednesday5 EDT).
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 27 INDIA–PAK. Secret; Flash; Limdis. Repeated to USUN, London, Karachi, New Delhi, CINCMEAFSA for POLAD, Tehran, Ankara, the White House, DOD, and CIA. Also passed to USIA.↩
- A more detailed report of this conversation was sent in telegram 100 from Rawalpindi, September 21. In this report McConaughy noted that Foreign Secretary Aziz Ahmed was present during the conversation, which prevented the type of intimate, personal exchange that McConaughy had with Ayub the previous day. (Ibid.)↩
- Telegram 573 from Karachi, September 21, reported that the Embassy and the USIS Library were attacked by stone-throwing mobs on September 21. Glass was broken in the Embassy and the library was set afire and seriously damaged before police were able to disperse the mobs. (Ibid., POL 23–8 PAK) The Consulate General in Lahore also reported on September 21 that it had been attacked by a mob on the same day. The Consulate General and a nearby USIS building were damaged. (Telegram 24 from Lahore; ibid.)↩
- Reference is to the message McConaughy was instructed to convey to Ayub in telegram 92 from Rawalpindi, Document 218.↩
- September 22.↩