Reply
from Lord Mountbatten to Maharajah Sir Hari Singh
27 October 1947
Legal
Document No 115
My dear Maharajah Sahib,
Your Highness's letter, dated the 26th Octobers
has been delivered to me by Mr. V.P. Menon. In the
special circumstances mentioned by Your Highness, my
Government have decided to accept the accession of
Kashmir State to the Dominion of India. Consistently
with their policy that. in the case of any State where
the issue of accession has been the subject of
dispute, the question of accession should be decided
in accordance with the wishes of the people of the
State, it is my Government's wish that, as soon as law
and order have been restored in Kashmir and her soil
cleared of the invader, the question of the State's
accession should be settled by a reference to the
people. Meanwhile, in response to your Highness's
appeal for military aid, action has been taken today
to send troops of the Indian Army to Kashmir to help
your own forces to defend your territory and to
protect the lives, property and honour of your people.
My Government and I note with satisfaction that
your Highness has decided to invite Sheikh Abdullah to
form an Interim Government to work with your Prime
Minister.
Yours sincerely,
(Sd/-) Mountbatten of Burma
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