501.BC/11-1848: Telegram

The [US] Secretary of State to the Acting [US] Secretary of State

SECRET URGENT - PARIS, November 18, 1948-8 p.m.

        Delga 821. Cadogan on instructions from London has just informed us that Prime Minister of Pakistan yesterday informed Prime Minister UK "that India has now started an all-out offensive with the obvious object of securing military decision before SC considers UN Commission to India and Pakistan's report." [The] Prime Minister [of] Pakistan requested UK immediately use influence with Nehru and expedite SC action to order and enforce an unconditional cease-fire immediately. Cadogan understands message has been sent to Nehru. British sources do not absolutely confirm allocation concerning Indian offensive and admit possibility Pakistan may have misinterpreted limited operation Indian forces reinforcing one garrison. Zafrulla informed UKDel this morning he had while in US received instructions to call for SC meeting to take this action but was waiting for Kashmir Commission action which he understood would be taken this week. Zafrulla will not therefore move until Monday at earliest. UK requests soonest indication [of] US view regarding such SC action next week. Cadogan stated he assumed it would be impracticable for SC at same moment to act on their desire for a plebiscite administered along lines he explained to the Secretary. Cadogan also raised question of supplying observers if SC adopts cease-fire order. He had no solution of this problem but said he would ask London.

        Department pass to New Delhi as 11 and Karachi as 9.

        MARSHALL

From: US Department of State. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948. Volume V, part 1. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1975, 450.