690D.91/7–1353: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State1
79. Indian leaders continue to show concern over reports that individual Americans have encouraged Abdullah to favor independence for Kashmir and have held out hope for US economic assistance, possibly in return for US air bases. References continue to be made to alleged increased intransigence of Abdullah following Adlai Stevenson’s talks with him in May, and there have even been veiled implications that Stevenson was charged with special mission by present US administration. Nehru appears to be convinced of this and may have originated reports (Embtel 31, repeated Karachi 4, July 6).2
Times of India editorial of July 11 asks, “Must we continue to brook the unasked-for interference of mischievous third parties?”
It is possible that Americans referred to in Hindustan Times article of June 30 (Embassy’s 19, July 4)2 were US members of UN observation mission, although they usually highly circumspect.
In view of forthcoming Ali–Nehru talks, it might be useful if I could assure Nehru officially, on basis of fresh instructions, that US continues to hope for successful settlement of Kashmir problem by bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan and that in any case US Government is not interfering in Kashmir and that any loose talk by private Americans regarding independence is fully repudiated. It might also be useful if I could give Nehru direct statement from Stevenson, stating that latter had learned that press references had been made to his talks with Abdullah and that he wished to make it clear that conversation was solely to obtain information and that he (Stevenson) had no solution in mind or desire to suggest one.