Office of the Historian

690D.91/1–3153: Telegram

The Ambassador in India (Bowles) to the Secretary of State1

secret
New Delhi, January 31, 1953—2 p.m.

3066. Deputy UKHC Garner confidentially states he personally raised Kashmir question with Indian Secretary General Pillai with reasons for importance of settlement between India and Pakistan. Latter said Bajpai had been given no new instructions that he had no [Page 1313] idea how talks would progress, but that he not optimistic. He added that Prime Minister was in ugly mood about Kashmir and placed primary blame United Kingdom for SC resolution. As result Prime Minister’s attitude toward other issues in which United Kingdom interested such as Nep Gurkha recruitment and MEDO was being affected.

Pillai told Garner recent Nehru–Nazimuddin correspondence had related to “no war” declaration but that as was case with Nehru–Liaquat exchanges Nazimuddin’s last letter reiterated Pakistan’s position on Kashmir; consequently no progress had been made beyond point previously reached.

Bowles
  1. This telegram was repeated for information to London, Geneva, and Karachi.↩