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THE BRITISH CROWN DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR GILGIT AFFAIRS OUTWARD TELEGRAM Political Department. Pol. 740 / 47. CONFIDENTIAL CODE From Secretary of State for India To The Crown Representative Despatched 20.40 hours, 8th May 1947 ……………………… IMPORTANT No. 5946. Your 941 – P of 29th Arpil. Gilgit / I agree with the line you take and I approve the proposals contained in your paragraph No. 5. 2. With reference to your para. 6 I understand that Nehru has now accepted you decision. ……………………….. Copies to:- Perm. US. PS. To SS. Depy. US. PS. To US. Asst. US’s. PS. To Parly, US. US. For Burma. Mr. Turnbull. Asst. US. For Burma Mr. Joyce. P.F.V. Resident clerk ……………………………………………………………………… I was a little unhappy about an amendment in the Gilgit note made by Sir P. Patrick and altering “Govt of India” to “Crown Representative” (if I remember rightly) as the authority that administered the Agency; but I did not feel sure enough of my ground to pursue the matter. My impression was that the Agency was administered by the Governor General in Council, but in the Dept of External Affairs of which he himself held the portfolio. Mainppice’s note, which I saw later, seems to bear this out. The point might be worth looking into. ……………………………………………………………………. CONFIDENTIAL THE GILGIT AGENCY Position before 15th August 1947 The Agency was run by British officers receiving their orders from the Government of India, External Affairs Department (latterly Pandit Jawarhalal Nehru) through the Resident in Kashmir – Lt. Col. Webb. Control of the Agency divided among three main departments, under the supreme head of the political Agent – Lt. Col. R.N. Bacon O.B.E., who succeeded Lt. Col. Cobb, C.B.E., in November 1945. The “Departments”. 1. Political Lt. Col. R.N. Bacon, C.B.E., - Political Agent Paul Mainprice, Esq., - Assistant Political Agent (A.P.A.) The Resident Engineer – (an Indian and his subordinate forming the PWD) An Indian Assistant – Advisor on local matters to P.A. The Head Clerk and subordinate clerks etc. Mr. Limbuwala - Wireless Operator Telephone Department and the Treasury. Note:- The A.P.A. was responsible for the Gilgit Subdivision consisting of Gilgit itself. He had no jurisdiction ever the states – only the P.A. had this. 2. Medical …………………… …………………….. …………………….. 3. The Gilgit Corps of Scouts Major R.J.F. Milanes – Commandant (Major Brown replaced him on 31st July 1947) Capt. C.R.F. Hamilton – Second-in-Command and A.P.A., Chilas (Capt. Mathison replaced him alongwith Major Brown being his favorite) Lieut. J.B. Edn – Adjutant, Quarter-Master and Accounts officer (Lt Ghulam Haider, Capt Saeed Durrani and later Captain Mohammad Khan Jarral were the officers of the Maharaja Kashmir’s J&K Battalions deputed to Gilgit Scouts) Lieut. R. Carter – 4th Scouts Officer The Indian Officers:- 1 Subedar-Major 5 Subedars 7 Jemadars 1 Havildar-Major 1 Bugle-Major In all, 10 platoons (52 men in each) and H.Q., totaling about 580 men. The platoons were divided up thus:- H.Q. Gilgit – 4 platoons and H.Q Chilas – 4 platoons Kalamdarchi – 1 platoon Gupis – 1 platoon IMMEDIATE TOPSEC & PERSONAL NO. S.C. Sectt / 37 SUPREME COMMANDER’S HEADQUARTERS, Supreme Commander’s Secretariat NEW DELHI, 30 September 1947 From: The Supreme Commander. To: Rear Admiral HALL FOCRIN Rear Admiral JEFFORD FOC REW General LOCKHART C-in-C Army of India General MESSERVY C-in-C Army of Pakistan Air Marshal EIMHRST A.M.Comd R.I.A.F. Air Vice Marshal PERRY KEENS A.V.M. Comd RPAF. 1. On receipt of the Code word “STAND DOWN” the following order will immediately be put into force:- Owing to imminent risk of open conflict between the Armed Forces of India and Pakistan, all British officers and other ranks HOWEVER employed and of WHATEVER rank shall cease forthwith to take any further part in the command or administration of the Armed Forces of India and Pakistan. You will take immediate action to effect this, and nothing is to be allowed to impede it. After receipt of the code word “STAND DOWN”, you will inform the Defence Minister of your Government of this order and of the steps taken by you to give effect to it. Signals, Movement and other British Personnel who are under the direct control of Supreme Commander’s HQ will NOT be affected by this order. They will NOT however be required to undertake any task which is directly related to the military needs of the two Dominions. 2. You will keep this matter absolutely to yourself for the present and you will not make any communication to your Dominion Government concerning it. Both Governments are already aware that, in the event of armed conflict between them, British officers will be withdrawn at once. 3. It is for you to consider how best to pass on these orders to your subordinate commanders should the need arise.
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