BRITAIN IS TO CONSIDER KASHMIR PROBLEM

Chronicle (Levin), 3 January 1948, Page 8

BRITAIN IS TO CONSIDER KASHMIR PROBLEM

LONDOST, Jan. 1. The British Cabinet will next we6k eorisider the situation which has arisen as a result of .the Iiidian Government 's 'deeisioii to refer the Kashmir problexn to the United Natioas Sectirity Couneil. In commoii with ihe Dominion (rovenv ments, Britain had 4S iiours' notiee of Tndia ;s decision. The British Cabinet, says the Baily Telegraph's diplomatie correspondent will probably express the wish that a peaeeful settleraent should be reached betWeen India and Pakistan themselves, but the correspondent adds that it will also reiterate its view that all matters of the dispute, eveil .though it is between members of the Commonwealth ean be appropriately referred to the Security Coaneil for arbitration. Pandit Nehru has rejeeted a proposax by the Viceroy (Earl Mountbatten^ that India should agree to the partition of Kashmir' and withdraw its troops from the territory, aecording to the Bombay correspondent of the Daiiy Herald, who says that EarJ Mountbatten is unuerstood to have toki Pand'it Nehru that, iis..tlie„Jiidian Cabinet per-. sisted in the present "Kaslfmir policy, a clash with Pakistan Wa« inevitable, and in that case he would ^lot wish to continue in offiee. • /" Pandit Nehru is said to have replied that his Government was irrevocably committed to the present Kashmir jpolicy. If a clash between Pakistan and India vere inevitable, his (^abi.net would face it> together with the consequences of Earl Mountbatten's departure. Pakistan 's FoTeign Minister, Sir Mohammed Zafrullah Khan, interviewed on India-Pakistail felations, said India s policy towards Pakistan had been to pxmish Moslems for their temerity in demanding partition. Pakistan would wekome United Nation's intervention in reaching a fair settlement of all matters between Pakistan and India, but Pakistan eould not expect to agree to the isolation of any particular question and its submission to United. Nations divoreed from the background.