The Indian Police action in Hyderabad was still underway in September 1948 and the Nizam’s Government had yet not surrendered. In the midst of all this, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agreed to admit Hyderabad’s appeal and took up the matter for discussion on 16 September 1948. Statements were called for from the parties concerned. Over the next few weeks, there were dramatic diplomatic parleys and maneuvers which made several members of the Security Council air their views about the police action in Hyderabad.

It was a historic moment, which in many ways, was redefining the politics of the Indian sub-continent. On 18 September, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his broadcast on the police action said: “It is natural that we should rejoice at this swift termination of the action we undertook after prolonged and painful thought and each deliberation. As I have repeatedly said we are men of peace, hating war and the last thing we desire is to come into an armed conflict with anyone. Nevertheless, circumstances which you will know well, compelled us to take this action in Hyderabad.

Fortunately, it was brief and we return with relief to the paths of peace again.” The Security Council met again on 20 September after the Hyderabad surrender. By this time, the 7th Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan had sent instructions to withdraw the Hyderabad appeal from the Security Council. The Hyderabad representative in the United Nations, Nawab Moin Nawab Jung, denied the receipt of this instruction. The Indian action was strongly criticized in the Security Council.

This, despite the fact that an undertaking was given by the Indian representative in the UNSC that reports on the steps taken to restore order and for the will of the people to be expressed would be submitted to the Security Council. The British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Noel Baker, was very anxious to send instructions to the British Head of the UN Delegation, Alexander Cadogan. Baker averred that the use of force by India was very disquieting from the United Nations’ point of view. Britain could not accept that the United Nations had no locus standi in this matter.

Baker asked Cadogan to encourage the consideration of the Hyderabad question in the Security Council. The Security Council........

© The Statesman