Text of the Speech made by Mr. Quarles Van Ufford (Netherlands) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1237 held on 4 September 1965

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Quarles Van Ufford (Netherlands) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1237 held on 4 September 1965

The alarming reports of recent events on both sides of the cease-fire line in Kashmir have filled the delegation of the Netherlands with concern. It is with sorrow and perplexity that my delegation is forced to recognize that a problem with which the Security Council has grappled since 1947 has abruptly returned to a degree of frightening intensity. The occurrences of the past weeks, if that world suffices to describe the acts of violence that have taken place-have, unfortunately, made it imperative for the Security Council once more to give its urgent attention to the situation in Kashmir.

At this particular moment, my delegation has no desire to enter into a detailed examination of the broader issue, for the obvious urgency of the situation calls for few words but clear expressions. These clear expressions of the opinions of the members of the Security Council should be an endorsement and an affirmation of the earnest appeals that have already been made to the two parties engaged in this distressing conflict.

The message which the Secretary-General sent on 1 September to the President of the Republic of Pakistan and to the Prime Minister of the Republic of India represents the culmination of a series of steps which the Secretary-General undertook to check further deterioration of the situation. My delegation is appreciative of the unrelenting efforts of the Secretary-General and is all the more disappointed to not that these earnest appeals have not as yet been heeded by the contending parties.

Likewise, the messages from a number of Governments, equally appalled at the breaches of the peace in Kashmir, although those messages were an obvious indication of general and deep concern with this frightening situation, have so far received no reassuring replies.

Where all these earnest and direct appeals have produced no hopeful results, it is the opinion of my Government that the Security council cannot remain inactive with regard to acts which come clearly within the purview of the provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter.

It is the primary duty of the Security Council at this stage to call for respect for the cease-fire agreement and the cease-fire line freely agreed upon by both Pakistan and India on 27 July 1949. It is urgent that the parties be called upon to cease forthwith all hostilities and to restore the cease-fire line.

Force cannot settle the issue. However deeply rooted the differences may be, however strong the passions may flow, a solution cannot be reached as long as armed might is used to force an outcome. As Members of the United Nations, having subscribed to the Charter and to the words of the Preamble, "to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours", we are all obliged to act, in all circumstances, in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the Charter.

At the present stage of our deliberations and of our dealing with the grave situation in Kashmir, the Netherlands delegation is of the opinion that the Security Council should urge both Governments to respect the cease-fire line agreed to in 1949, to cease immediately all military actions and hostilities, to prevent crossings by armed personnel or civilians from both sides of the cease-fire line, to halt all firing across that line, to withdraw all armed personnel from the other side of the line and to cooperate with the United Nations Military Observer Group, which should have full freedom of movement and access.

Therefore my delegation considers the draft resolution which has been presented by the representative of Malaysia on behalf of the non-permanent members of the Security Council to be a useful and necessary step towards restoring peace in Kashmir. It hopes and trusts that this draft will be unanimously adopted. This resolution should be seen as but a first step in order to create a favourable climate for the restoration of peace. This urgent appeal by the Security Council should not preclude its obligation to follow vigilantly the developments in Kashmir and to take further action if that were required.