Text of the Speech made by Mr. Barco (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 773 held on 20 February 1957

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Barco (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 773 held on 20 February 1957

As we feared, the representative of the Soviet Union has again abused the veto power to prevent the Security Council from helping to resolve an international dispute in which the Soviet Union, presumably, has no direct interest. The Soviet representative's implication that the Security Council would be violating the Charter by authorising its President to bear in mind the proposal by one of the parties for a United Nations force to in demilitarization cannot be substantiated by anything that has been said or done here. The action of the Soviet Union can have only one purpose, to perpetuate international conflict and dissension between two of Asia's great countries. The Soviet Union takes a weighty responsibility upon itself. It has blocked measures by the United Nations to help to assure peaceful conditions in the area and friendly relations between the two States. The Security Council has considered the Kashmir problem on many occasions since 1947.

Many Members of the United Nations have served on the Council when this issue was before us. In every instance, and regardless of the membership of the Council, it has overwhelmingly approved measures to bring about a free expression of the will of the Kashmir people through an impartial plebiscite. That opinion, and those resolutions, remain valid and represent the continued sense of the Council. The resolution adopted by the Council on 24 January 1957 [S/3779], and the nine votes which our joint draft resolution has just received make this clear.

In spite of the Soviet veto, the United States hopes for progress in resolving the dispute. We believe that the parties will themselves not wish to end these discussions on the negative note of the Soviet veto. We urge them to refrain from any measures which might have the effect of increasing tension in the area. We believe that the Security Council should consider immediate action to repair the damage caused by the Soviet veto of the four-Power draft resolution. Such action would accord with its continuing responsibility to assist the parties to move towards a solution of this serious problem.

The United States, together with the delegations of Australia and the United Kingdom, therefore submitted a new draft resolution which we believe would provide for helpful action in the present circumstances. This draft resolution has just been handed to the President, and I should like to read it out to the Security Council:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its resolution of 24 January 1957, its previous. resolutions and the resolutions of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan on the India-Pakistan question,

"1. Requests the President security Council, the representative of Sweden, to examine with the Governments of India and Pakistan any proposals which, in his opinion, are likely to contribute towards the settlement of the dispute, having regard to the previous resolutions of the Security Council and of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan; to visit the sub-continent for this purpose; and to report to the Security Council not later than 15 April 1957;

"2. Invites the Governments of India and Pakistan. to cooperate with him in the performance of these functions;

"3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations Representative for India and Pakistan to render such assistance as he may request [S/3792 and Corr. 1]."

This draft resolution bases itself solidly upon the long and virtually unanimous attitude of the Security Council, as expressed in its resolutions, and upon the obligations accepted by the parties under the resolutions of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan. It would authorise the President of the Council to discuss with India and Pakistan any proposals which have been or which may be put forward and which he thinks could help to resolve the dispute, having regard to these resolutions. In his examination of means to solve the dispute, the President would necessarily devote considerable attention to demilitarisation, which is the point at which progress towards a plebiscite has broken down.

The draft resolution vetoed by the Soviet Union offered, in our opinion, the best opportunity for progress. We hope, however, that this new draft resolution will still permit the Council to take constructive action, and we urge the Council to adopt it quickly.

Sir Pierson DIXON (United Kingdom): We deeply regret the Soviet Union veto of the four-Power draft resolution, the first veto ever cast in the long history of the Kashmir dispute. We must see what action the Council can now usefully take with a view to making progress toward a settlement. The United Kingdom still ardently desires to see progress made. It is with these considerations in mind that the United Kingdom delegation gladly joins in sponsoring the new draft resolution which has been read out by the representative of the United States.

Under this revised draft resolution, the President of the Security Council would still be enabled to visit India and Pakistan, and he would be enabled to discuss any proposals which, in his opinion, are likely to contribute to the settlement of the dispute, having regard to the previous resolutions. He could hardly fail to discuss, amongst others, the problem of demilitarisation preparatory to a free and impartial plebiscite, which has been so much in the centre of our discussion here and on which I explained the attitude of the United Kingdom this morning [772nd meeting, paras, 161 and 152].

It is my hope that this revised draft resolution will commend itself to the Council, because I am sure that the President's mission, even in its present more generalised terms, will make a great contribution to the achievement of a settlement. We have faith not only in his mission, but also in the sincere desire of the Governments and peoples of India and Pakistan to reach a peaceful settlement.