A Meeting of Minds

This last weekend must have been an invigorating one for that patient group of diplomats which meets at Lake Success. At last they have seen two nations come before the United Nations with a seemingly insoluble problem, with diametrically opposed viewpoints, and consent to arbitrate their differences. A speech by the Indian delegate charging Moslem aggression, a five and a half hour talkathen by the Pakistan Foreign Minister Mohammaz Zafrullah Khan indicting India for "genocide," a quick vote and the discussion moved into the offices of M. van Langenhowe, Chairman of the Security Council.

The different between this and other United Nations problems is that the two opponents evidently have the authority to arrange a settlement by arbitration, and the will to do so. This left little for the Security Council to do but give them the opportunity to work out their own solution.

Neither side is likely to underestimate the difficulty involved in reaching an agreement. India feels that Kashmir is rightfully hers despite an overwhelming Moslem population--the Hindu ruler preferred to stay out of Mohammedan Pakistan. She claims that the invading Punjab tribesmen have the backing of the Pakistan, Government and points out that the raiders have recently used light artillery and are singularly well equipped. Pakistan naturally feels that Kashmir is wrongfully in the enemy camp, but at the same time claims that the fault lies not with her, but with an Indian which is charged with trying to ruin its rival and sabotage partition of the sub-continent. Foreign Minister Khan, unlike other representatives of accused nations wants to reach an agreement, not merely air the difficulties, fail his opponents with verbose charges, solemnly declare for peace, and act for war.

Without an armed force, the United Nations can do little to implement its own decisions, unless the Big Five should bridge the East-West gap. The India-Pakistan willingness to arbitrate their case points a way out of the impasse at Lake Success--if all nations want lasting peace.