Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

857.AB/1–1350: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority

New York, January 13, 1950—2:13 p. m.

30. At 12:30 p. m. today Ambassador Gross¹ and I called upon Madame Pandit and Sir Girja Bajpai to deliver the message from the Secretary, contained in Deptel 9, January 13. I said that I was glad of the opportunity to see Madame Pandit on the eve of her departure for India (she leaves at 3:00 p. m., this afternoon, January 13). I said that I had received instructions from the Department about an hour before to convey to Sir Girja the views of the Secretary of State on the Kashmir matter. I said that I thought that the clearest manner of conveying the Secretary’s views would be to read from a telegram in which those views had been transmitted. I said that I was not delivering a note or any other document, but that I merely wished to convey the views of the Secretary. However, I explained that I had thought it might be useful, to avoid any misunderstanding, if I were to leave Sir Girja the notes of my conversation in typewritten form.

I then read with deliberation paragraphs numbered 1, 2, and 3 of Deptel 9. While I was reading the message, Sir Girja followed along by reading the typewritten copy, and Madame Pandit listened very intently. While I was reading the message, Ambassador Gross watched the expressions of Madame Pandit and Sir Girja. They were both visibily affected, and twice during the reading exchanged glances.

As soon as I completed reading, Sir Girja stood up without comment and without giving Madame Pandit an opportunity to say anything. As Ambassador Gross and I were putting on our coats, Sir Girja said that he assumed that the reference in the message to our intention to support SC action was not intended as a threat. I replied that I was certain no threat was intended and that I hoped I had not read it in such a way as to make it sound like a threat. I added that it was simply a statement of fact.

On the way out, Ambassador Gross mentioned to Sir Girja that the first sentence of paragraph 1 obviously referred to discussion between Sir Girja and the Secretary. Sir Girja said he undertood this.

There was no further discussion of the message or the Kashmir matter.

Department please repeat to New Delhi as Usun 1, Karachi as Usun 1, Colombo as Usun 1, London as Usun 4.

Austin

1. Ernest A. Gross, Deputy U.S. Representative at the United Nations.