690D.91/5–2153: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations
secret
Washington, May 21, 1953—5:50
p.m.
449. Re Kashmir. In view of UK Delegation’s indicated desire to confer with USUN on future action in Kashmir case, particularly on basis of UK specific proposals, following are our views:
- 1.
- We suggest that discussions on Kashmir may more profitably be held after Secretary returns from trip. Accordingly we suggest USUN indicate to UK Delegation belief that discussion should wait until after the Secretary’s return and we have had chance to assess Indo-Pak situation on basis of his trip.
- 2.
- FYI we believe, like UK and Graham, that best hope for progress settlement of Kashmir problem rests in meeting of two Prime Ministers, which we assume will not occur until middle or later part of June. In our opinion nothing should be done which might disturb the friendly atmosphere in which it is expected that meeting will take place. We feel that chances for successful negotiation between two Prime Ministers will be better if US and UK have not entered into substantive negotiations in anticipation of failure of meeting. Pakistan would certainly hear promptly via UK of any agreement we reached [Page 1323] with UK on next UN steps. We believe GOP will be less prone want SC debate in preference to negotiation between two Prime Ministers if it understands all discussions between US and UK suspended pending Prime Ministers’ meeting. For this reason we see advantage in not pressing forward in talks with UK. There is perhaps risk in not attempting to reach complete understanding with UK soon but we think US–UK talks now would lessen prospects of productive direct negotiations between India and Pakistan, and in any event US–UK position in SC will be affected, if not determined, by atmosphere created by and outcome of Prime Ministers’ meeting.
Smith