04111947 Text of Telegram dated November 4, 1941 from the Pakistan Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
04111947 Text of Telegram dated November 4, 1941 from the Pakistan Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
I thank you for your telegram No. 327 of October 31st and further message of the same date regarding the situation in Kashmir. The conference which was arranged to be held in Lahore on November 1st did not take place because suddenly on the morning of November 1st Lord Mountbatten telephonically informed the Governor-General! of Pakistan that Pandit Nehru was not well enough to go to Lahore. That, therefore, he alone was coming to attend the meeting of Joint Defence Council of which he is Chairman. That he hoped to take opportunity of meeting the Governor-General of Pakistan. That since he was only a constitutional Governor-General he could not negotiate a settlement.
In this way the idea of a conference has receded into the background so far as Indian Dominion is concerned, for, if India Government wanted if the Deputy Prime Minister could have come in place of Pandit Nehru.
The two Governors-General met at Lahore and had not a long discussion on November 1st. The upshot of discussion was that Governor-General, Pakistan, made the following proposals to Governor-General, India, for acceptance of the India Dominion:
1. To put an immediate stoppage to fighting the two Governors-General should be authorised and vested with full power by both Dominion Governments to issue a
proclamation forthwith giving forty-eight hours' notice to the two opposing forces to cease fire. Governor- General, Pakistan, has no control over forces of Provisional Government of Kashmir or tribesmen engaged in fighting but he will warn them in clearest
terms that if they do not obey orders to cease fire immediately the forces of both Dominions will make war on them.
2. Both forces of the India Dominion and tribesmen withdrew simultaneously and with the utmost expedition from Jammu and Kashmir State territory.
3. With sanction of two Dominion Governments the two Governors-General to be given full powers to restore peace, undertake the administration of Jammu and Kashmir State and arrange for plebiscite without delay under their joint control and supervision.'
Lord Mountbatten was requested to place these proposals immediately before the India Dominion and to get their acceptance of them. Governor-General, Pakistan, undertook to do likewise. Governor-General, Pakistan, is still awaiting a reply from Governor-General, India.
On the evening of November 2nd, a day after the return of Lord Mountbatten to Delhi, Pandit Nehru broadcast what he calls Vision of India Government and it is most unfortunate that have thought fit to do so in the manner and language- he has used. Leaving aside the highly provocative attacks of turkistan Government, the proposal he has put forward is not the most dangerous potential and will not bring peace to Kashmir. As long as forces of India Dominion are on Kashmir soil the struggle of Kashmir people will go on. What India Government call the restoration of law and order is no more "an an attempt to oppressive killing-terror and driving oat Muslim population of Jammu and Kashmir until, like East Punjab and Indian States in East Punjab, the composition of population is entirely changed. Pandit Nehru's broadcast indicates clearly that India Government intends to complete their occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and get entire control over its territory under superficial attractive slogan that ultimately the fate of Kashmir will be decided by people of Kashmir. Pandit Nehru has even avoided use of word plebiscite and has spoken out referendum which might mean anything. After The Indian Government has established complete mastery over the territory of Jammu and Kashmir; the holding of a plebiscite or referendum will be purely a farce.
- the meantime feelings throughout West Pakistan and Tribal territory are running very high and will soon get beyond a» control. After ghastly massacres in East Punjab, it is impossible to expect people to patiently witness a tragedy on an equal scale in Jammu and Kashmir. Very little news of Jammu is allowed to reach the outside world but the situation there is extremely grave. According to our information thousands of Muslims are being massacred every day. Jammu City itself 90,000 Muslims are bottled up and are in imminent peril of their
The problem is so inflammatory and dangerous that it requires an immediate solution. All this was fully impressed upon Governor-General, India, in ,talk that Governor-General, Pakistan had with him. The Pakistan Government is convinced that the only solution which will avoid further bloodshed and Wing peace to Jammu and Kashmir, get a free verdict of people of State, and restore friendly relations between two Dominions hat proposed by Governor-General .I, Pakistan. Immediate action is essential. Every day that passes counts and makes situation more and more dangerously grave. I once more urge you to take immediate action without a moment's delay or else the consequences will be beyond control and most disastrous, having much wider repercussions not only in this sub-continent but throughout the world."