Telegram from Loy Henderson to Secrertary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM DEPARTMENT OF STATE-DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS TELEGRAPH BRANCH 4 Action FROM: New Delhi Control 5766 OLI Rec'd April 15, 1950 TO : Secretary of State 6:20 a.m. Irio SMDA NO : 511, April 14, 8 p.m. E P SENT DEPARTMENT, POUCHED KARACHI, RANGOON, BOMBAY, EUR CALCUTTA, MADRAS, BANGKOK, PARIS, LONDON, NEA KABUL, COLOMBO, USMLO SINGAPORE. DEPARTMENT PASS CINCFE CIA TOKYO, FT. SHAFTER ARMY. POUCH TO MA LONDON. ARMY AIR WEEKA No. 15 FROM SANA, NAVY IE Liaguat-Nehru agreement on minorities problem signed 8th DCR and made public 10th in Delhi and Karachi when respective Prime Ministers presented it to parliaments. Agreement included assurances fundamental rights including equality of citizenship irrespective of religion and made clear minorities should look to country of which they were citi- zens for redress of their grievances. Elaborate provisions provided for freedom of movement of nigrants, protection in transit and rights to dispose of movable and immovable property. Further provisions ef- fective all India were designed facilitate restoration status quo ante and prevent communal agitation while Commission of Inquiry applicable only to two Bengals, Assam and Tripura also provided for. Agreement also specified one minister from each central government would remain in affected area of his state and that minority commissions would be set up in Bengals and Assam to ob- serve, advise and report on implementation of agreement. Comment: Agreement made possible by last minute conces- sions by Liaquat Consensus here is Liaquat was moti- vated by realization that if he did not make concessions Nehru, who was having serious difficulties with cabinet, might be forced resign and Pakistan would then have to deal with more intransigent leaders not committed to policy of peace. Liaquat also may have felt that in this crisis he had given way before superior weight and resources of India. Nehru DECLASSIFIED STATE GEORGI AND AuthoNity and By HC NLT Date 5-12-13 INFORMATION COPY