690D.91/7–1152: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Bowles) to the Department of State1
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155. I talked with Nehru and again brought up subj Kashmir altho with some reluctance because I had clear impression he did not want carry on his conversation any further with me after our first mts. However, I stated I had done great deal thinking about our conv and again wanted urge him examine Pak’s attitude with greatest care. I emphasized proposal itself long step towards his own position and he must agree GOP seemed genuinely anxious settle this problem.
I then stressed gain to whole world if this Kashmir dispute cld be ended and particularly gain to India in her efforts push forward five-year plan. Nehru perfectly pleasant but did not give. He stated he felt any further discussions shld come thru Graham New York and rptd that his own position been clearly stated; that he cld not move from it; and that he did not think presence Pak armored div Sialkot represented whole-hearted desire part Pak Govt for settlement. I did not tell him this brigade withdrawn because it my understanding from Karachi it replaced by other troops.
I personally believe our next move must be thru Graham and that Graham shld make definite recommendation to two parties with no ref Nazimuddin informal discussions with Warren and me. Our only hope this stage which may well be last stage as far as UN concerned is for Graham offer Nehru and GOP proposal so close Nehru’s own professed ideas that he must accept or appear before world as sole obstacle Kashmir peace.
Nehru acting wholly unreasonable manner and probably will continue do so. But there chance proposal along lines prev tel presented in language that does not run counter legal position GOI persists maintaining may still force him accept.
Nehru definitely hopes whole sitn can be made go away. That way he resists talking to me. But he clearly conscious his position weak and knowledge in event failure Graham wld present full record security council and that he will be forced into most uncomfortable and unprincipled position before world might conceivably do trick.
It my guess Nazimuddin may be willing go even further than his offer to Warren and me; first because he confident he can win plebiscite; and second because he knows that if Nehru turns down offer publicly GOP will be in strong position.
On question 4,000 Azad Kashmiri forces, I believe Nehru in keeping his concern for legal appearances is more interested symbols than realities. In other words 2,000 Kashmiris cld [be] demobilized 10 a.m. [Page 1279] and recruited as police 10:10 a.m. the other 2,000 re his stand wld have to be recruited from local police etc.
Sheik Abdullah is at last coming Delhi Monday for conv with Nehru. Nazimuddin offer probably speeded up this mtg.
Needless say we bitterly disappointed way this sitn has developed.
- This telegram was repeated to London, Karachi, and New York.↩