Text of the Speech made by Mr. Plimpton (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1116 held on 13 May 1964

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Plimpton (United States of America) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1116 held on 13 May 1964

Three months ago, on 14 February 1964 [1091st meeting, the considered views of the United States Government concerning the Kashmir question were placed before the Security Council. These views I will augment only briefly.

The United States Government believes that the Security Council has a real obligation to contribute to the creation of as favourable an atmosphere as possible for the prompt and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem. We can do so by demonstrating our willingness to assist the parties to compose their differences in any way they may find helpful. My Government fully shares the views expressed here by other delegations as to the role of the Secretary-General, and we join in the belief that the Security Council should call upon him to assist the parties in ways which they may deem appropriate.

It is now for the parties to the dispute to come to grips with the substance of the issue and to negotiate in a sincere effort to reach a solution reasonably satisfactory to all concerned, with such assistance from the Secretary-General as may be useful. New developments in the area have pointed out the desirability of taking a fresh look at the Kashmir situation, and the necessity of renewed efforts to bring about a peaceful solution of the problem and of all other differences between them.

We also wish to encourage the continuation of talks between India and Pakistan on another of the urgent problems existing between them, namely the relations between the Muslim and Hindu communities.

We believe that the peoples of these two great countries desire to live in peace. Surely they are more aware than we can possibly be that the present state of affairs contains the seeds of tragedy for both countries. To the extent that the voice of friends can lend encouragement to their efforts to find some peaceful accommodation of their differences, let us say that now seems to be a propitious time to make a renewed attempt at reconciliation. Our concern is deep, and we wish them well.