UNP Files: Lot 59 D 237
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson) to the Acting Secretary of State
Subject: Availability of Frank P. Graham1 as UN Representative for Kashmir Dispute
1. Because the President had appointed Admiral Nimitz to be Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Internal Security and Individual Eights, on February 16, 1951 the President replied to a letter from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, stating that we would suggest Americans other than Admiral Nimitz as nominees for the position of United Nations Representative in the Kashmir dispute (Tab A).2 Pakistan had pressed the President to make available Admiral Nimitz for the position envisaged in the draft resolution (Tab B) jointly presented to the Security Council by the United Kingdom and the United States, and revised March 21, 1951.3 The UN Representative, under the terms of this resolution will be responsible for effecting demilitarization of Kashmir preliminary to a plebiscite, or of obtaining the parties’ agreement to a demilitarization plan, within three months from the date he arrives on the subcontinents
2. Pursuant to this understanding we had proposed Ralph J. Bunche as the best American candidate for this position of UN Representative. The United Kingdom agreed to Dr. Bunche, provided that he was acceptable to the Government of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan flatly rejected Dr. Bunche on March 24, because of his association with the Palestine dispute and because the Pakistanis regarded him as too friendly to Prime Minister Nehru of India. Since the President promised to suggest “certain names” to act in Admiral Nimitz’ stead, we must present other American candidates.
3. It is our belief that Dr. Frank P. Graham is the outstanding candidate, in the light of his standing and particularly his contribution to the solution of the Indonesian question. Since Dr. Graham has just recently received an important assignment in the Department of Labor, we believe that he would be reluctant to consider the position of UN Representative unless released by the President. In view of your relationship with Dr. Graham and the urgent importance of the [Page 1755] Kashmir problem to the peace of the Indian subcontinent, we request that, if you approve, the matter be taken up with the President at an early opportunity, to the end that Dr. Graham may be available for this vital post for a period of approximately 3 or 4 months.
Recommendations:
1. That the matter be taken up with the President at the first opportunity.
2. If the President is agreeable, that Dr. Graham be approached and urged to accept this assignment.
- Defense Manpower Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor; formerly President of the University of North Carolina (1930–1949), U.S. Representative on the U.N. Security Council Committee of Good Offices on the Indonesian Question (1947–1948), and Senator from North Carolina (1949–1950). Dr. Graham was appointed U.N. Representative for India and Pakistan by the Security Council on April 30 (S/PV. 543).↩
- Not printed.↩
- For the text of /2017/Rev. 1, as adopted by the Security Council on March 30, see p. 1758.↩