Secret Telegram
From: American Embassy London
To: Secretary State,
Subject: British views on Indo-Pak Situation
1. British position on Indo-Pakistan situation
remains consistent. Sutherland told us today that HMG believes USG has made
tactical error in taking public stance critical of Indians. In FCO view, both
sides are at fault and it is essentially sterile exercise at this juncture to
attempt to apportion greater blame to one side or other. British determination
not to put themselves in this posture springs from this conclusion, and from
their conviction that it is in British interest to be able to have reasonable
relations with
2. Aside from this tactical difference, however, Sutherland
feels USG and HMG understanding and assessment of situation on subcontinent is
essentially the same.
3. Sutherland said HMG has brought itself to accept
situation in East, but is concerned about Indian intentions in West. There is
some suspicion here that Indians, once they have completed operations in East,
will attempt to seize Azad Kashmir with intention of holding it. British
Hicomer Garvey has "more than once" seen top levels MFA under
instructions to attempt to obtain GOI statement that capture and retention of
Azad Kashmir is not rpt not one of Indian objectives in this war. Garvey has
been unsuccessful to date, but FCO is having him continue to press Indians on
this. Argument being stressed to Indians is that, whereas world may bring itself
to swallow what Indians are doing in East, any Indian attempt to hold territory
in West would result in complete international condemnation. Sutherland told us
FCO feels Indians would lose even Soviet support if they try takeover in
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