330. Letter From Secretary of State Dulles to President Mirza1
My Dear President Mirza: Despite many preoccupations, particularly with the Far East, my thoughts have frequently turned toward you and the problems you face in relation to your country. It is, of course, with a certain sadness that one sees constitutions suspended and the rule of men substituted, as it were, for the rule of law. Nevertheless, it is never possible to generalize about these matters and I know that you and General Ayub have a selfless dedication to the welfare of your country, so that what under other circumstances would be dangerous can, under these circumstances, be benign.
There is, of course, no single constitutional pattern which can be mechanistically applied at all times and under all circumstances. Our own constitutional history has been one of evolution. As originally constituted, our President was elected by an electoral college of distinguished citizens; our Senators were appointed by the Legislatures of the several States; the Federal judges were appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate, and only the so-called “Lower House” of the Legislature, the House of Representatives, was composed of persons directly elected. We have evolved since then toward a much greater degree of direct control by the people.
I have no familiarity with the Constitution which you initially adopted. But I can understand that just as our Articles of Confederation had to give way to our Federal Constitution, which, in turn, has frequently been amended, so, too, your country’s original Constitution may not have proved workable. I gather that a new one will be proposed to take its place, so that Pakistan will again have a constitutional form of government resting upon the consent of the governed.
I know that the changes which have occurred do not alter in any respect the close ties which exist between our two countries, and I write this note merely to assure you of my recognition and appreciation of that fact, and also to let you know that my sympathy goes out to you and your associates as you face the heavy task of finding a form of government adapted to the difficult conditions which confront your nation.2
[Page 678]I am, my dear President,
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.00/10–1758. Personal and Confidential.↩
- In telegram 983 from Karachi, October 22, Langley reported that he delivered Dulles’ letter to Mirza the previous day. President Mirza, he noted, was “much pleased” with the letter. (Ibid., 790D.11/10–2258)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩