Text of the Speech made by Mr. Lodge (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 765 held on 24 January 1957

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Lodge (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 765 held on 24 January 1957

In considering the India Pakistan item the Security Council faces an unfortunate difference of opinion between two nations, whose friendship and esteem is highly valued by the United States. We desire to help them to find a solution to this problem and we approach the question in that spirit. It is regrettable that this dispute has lasted more than nine years, despite the earnest efforts of the Security Council and of its representatives, the individual efforts of certain members of the Council, and the attempts of the parties concerned.

It is a tribute to the Council and to the parties that a cease-fire was achieved on 1 January 1949 [S/1196, para. 14] as part of an agreement by India and Pakistan for demilitarisation and for a United Nations sponsored plebiscite. Unfortunately, however, and despite the best efforts of the Council and its representatives, the parties have failed to agree on carrying out the next two steps. It is understandable that strong emotion should be involved on both sides of this problem.

One of the first concerns of the Council has always been that nothing should be done which might aggravate the situation. This was made clear and explicit in the Council's first resolution on the case adopted on 17 January 1948. We Finally, the United States lays stress on the final paragraph of the draft resolution before us. In the absence of a direct mutually acceptable agreement between the parties, the Council has an obligation to continue its efforts, as it has in the past, to seek and to support any fruitful suggestion in this difficult case.