HC Deb 31 January 1957 vol 563 cc1139-40
1. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions have taken place at meetings of the United Nations about the future of Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. C. J. M. Alport)

At the request of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan the Security Council met on 16th January to discuss the Kashmir question. On that day it heard a statement by Sir Feroz Khan Noon and on 23rd and 24th January the Council heard a counter-statement by Mr. Krishna Menon, Indian Minister without Portfolio. The Council also on 24th January adopted a Resolution, the text of which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. This Resolution was sponsored by the United States, Australia, Colombia, Cuba and the United Kingdom. All members of the Security Council voted in favour of the Resolution except the Soviet Union, whose representative abstained. This Resolution was concerned solely with the constitutional aspect of the Kashmir question. The matter is still on the agenda of the Security Council.

Mr. Johnson

Will my hon. Friend find the opportunity to make it clear to the Government of India that their actions with regard to Kashmir and the way in which they have flouted the United Nations meet with general disapproval in this country?

Mr. Alport

Our aim is to help in any way we can our two fellow-members of the Commonwealth who are parties to this dispute to achieve an agreement.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Would not our position in intervening here be stronger if we had not flouted the United Nations?

Mr. Alport

No, Sir.

Following is the Resolution adopted by the Security Council at its 765th Meeting on 24th January, 1957: The Security Council, Having heard statements from representatives of the Governments of India and Pakistan concerning the dispute over the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Reminding the Governments and Authorities concerned of the principle embodied in its resolutions of 21st April, 1948, 3rd June, 1948, 14th March, 1950, and 30th March, 1951, and the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan resolutions of 13th August, 1948, and 5th January, 1949, that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations, Reaffirms the affirmation in its resolution of 30th March, 1951, and declares that the convening of a Constituent Assembly as recommended by the General Council of the "All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference" and any action that Assembly may have taken or might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof, or action by the parties concerned in support of any such action by the Assembly, would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle, Decides to continue its consideration of the dispute.
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