Kashmir Dispute: U.S. Chargé in India to U.S. Secretary of State, January 4, 1948

745.45F/1-448 Telegram

The [US] Chargé in India (Donovan) to the [US] Secretary of State

SECRET - NEW DELHI, January 4,1948-4 p.m.

        10. Deptel 817, December 31, mytel 5, January 3. I saw Nehru today [at] 3 p.m. He said he had received my note conveying Department's message to GOI. I emphasized [the] concern [of the] US Government over [the] Kashmiri question and stressed [the] hope [of the] US Government [that] no action would be taken by GOI which would aggravate [the] situation.

        Nehru assured me GOI had no intention [of] taking any steps against GOP which would cause [the] situation [to] deteriorate further. I asked Nehru what he thought was [the] most dangerous factor in [the] existing situation. He replied that [the] larger part of west Punjab was now for all practical purposes "tribal territory" and that GOP could neither disarm nor control tribesmen. He said GOI troops would not take offensive action against GOP[,] but that he feared Kashmiri irregulars might raid into west Punjab in retaliation [for] raids into Jammu by tribesmen from west Punjab. No written reply to Embassy note yet received[,] but I consider Nehru's verbal assurances entirely adequate.

        I saw Bucher just prior [to] my call on Nehru. Bucher said Defense Minister had approved statements made to me reported in mytel 1, January 2. Bucher [is] still optimistic regarding [the] general situation. He
said Mohan Singh[,] former head INA[,] was making trouble along east west Punjab border. Bucher said he was taking every precaution [to] prevent trucks and gasoline from getting into Mohan Singh's hands and that without those items Mohan Singh could do little. He said east west Punjab border situation fairly quiet.

        Reliable sources report Fourth Indian Division moving north into east Punjab. Embassy feels sure in view [of] Bucher's remarks that this troop movement is purely defensive against possible offensive action from tribesmen in west Punjab.

        Nehru said [a] Cabinet member would probably leave for USA immediately after SC meets to present India's case. SC Cabinet member still not selected.

        Department please repeat London as 5. Copy to Karachi by courier January 5.

        DONOVAN

From: US Department of State. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948. Volume V, part 1. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1948, 270-271.