Memorandum from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to President Harry S. Truman

DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 copy Sarly automatic on State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 By DEB NLT, Date 10-21-85 DEPARTMENT OF STATE CONFIDENTIAL WASHINGTON MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Your Appointment With the Pakistan Foreign Minister Sir Zafrulla Khan, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, will call on you on February 13 or 14 and put forward an earnest request that you make available the services of Admiral Nimitz in connection with the Kashmir case, which will be considered by the United Nations Security Council this week. On the assumption that Admira Nimitz would not be immediately available for a United Nations assignment, because of his recent appointment as Chairman of the Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights, the Department has recently informed the British and Sir Zafrulla that another prominent American was being considered for the post of United Nations Representative in the Kashmir dispute. We have also suggested to the United Kingdom (but not to Pakistan) that we believe Dr. Ralph Bunche would provide the most suitable alternate for Admiral Nimitz. Under a new United Nations resolution, which we expect the British and other members of the Security Council to co-sponsor with us, a United Nations Representative would be authorized to effect the demilitarization of Kashmir and to suggest detailed plans for a plebiscite. The functions of Plebiscite- Administrator-Designate, from which Admiral Nimitz is on leave without pay, would be exercised at a later stage. Mr. Bevin has inquired if you could not make the Admiral available immediately for three months' service with the United Nations and I have informed him that, as this would not be possible, we favor the alternative procedure proscribed above. I believe you will wish to express to Sir Zafrulla your regret that the services of Admiral Nimitz are not now available in connection with the Kashmir case and to say that we have great hopes that another distinguished American will be able to carry out the immediate duties which may be assigned to a United Nations Representative by the Security Council. You may also wish to state that Admiral Nimitz is still the Plebiscite-Administrator-Designate and that you will give every consideration to the possibility of making his services available in that capacity at the appropriate time. HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY Should CONFIDENTIAL