14081948 .Notes on the meeting of the Commission with the Prime Minister of the Government of India in his office on 14 August 1948 (S/AC.12/45)

14081948 .Notes on the meeting of the Commission with the Prime Minister of the Government of India in his office on 14 August 1948 (S/AC.12/45)

At 6 p.m. on Saturday, 14 August 1948, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs of the Government of India, received the Commission in his office at Government House. The following were present for the Government of India, the Prime Minister, Mr. Ayyangar, Sir Girja Bajpai, Mr. Vellodi; for the Commission, Mr. Korbel, Mr. E. Graeffe, Mr. Huddle, Mr. Leguizamon, Mr. Samper, Mr. Colban and Mr. Kunst. Before the Commission's resolution on the cease-fire was handed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Korbel stated that, in the drafting of the resolution, the Commission had given very careful consideration to all the observations made by the representatives of the respective Governments. The Commission, he said, had carefully weighed every word or phrase before approving its final formulation, so that the resolution was the result of a most meticulous consideration of the problem. The Commission hoped that the resolution would be acceptable to both Governments and that it would bring the desired cessation of hostilities.

Mr. Korbel asked the Prime Minister to give his Government's reply to the resolution at the earliest convenience. He realized that the resolution required an equally careful consideration on the part of the Indian Government as it did on the part of the Commission. He did not wish to press for speed, but mentioned that a prompt answer would be gratefully appreciated.

The Prime Minister skimmed the resolution and handed it over to Mr. Ayyangar and subsequently to Sir Girja. He assured the Commission that he would give the Government's answer as soon as possible, but considering the pressure of work and the forthcoming celebrations for the Independence Day, he could not state a definite date. The resolution appeared to the Prime Minister the result of very careful wording and would have to be read with due care on the part of the Government.

Mr. Ayyangar shared the Prime Minister's opinion and said that he would refrain from any impromptu comments but would like to give due consideration to such an important document.

The Commission took leave of the Prime Minister and the representatives of the Indian Government at 6.30 p.m.