"For Prime Minister United Kingdom from Prime Minister India.
We have received urgent appeal for assistance from Kashmir Government. We would be
disposed
to give favourable consideration to such request from any friendly State. Kashmir's
Northern
frontiers, as you are aware, run in common with those of three countries, Afghanistan, the
Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and China. Security of Kashmir, which must depend upon control
of
internal tranquillity and existence of stable Government, is vital to security of India
especially since
part of Southern boundary of Kashmir and India are common. Helping Kashmir, therefore, is
an
obligation of national interest to India. We are giving urgent consideration to question
as to what
assistance we can give to State to defend itself.
I should like to make it clear that question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not
designed in any
way to influence the State to accede to India. Our view which we have repeatedly made
public is
that the question of accession in any disputed territory or State must be decided in
accordance with
wishes of people and we adhere to this view. It is quite clear, however, that no free
expression of
will of people of Kashmir is possible if external aggression succeeds in imperilling
integrity of its
territory.
I have thought it desirable to inform you of situation because of its threat of
international
complications."