Letter from Auchinleck to Gen. Sir Geoffry Scoones, Principal Staff Officer, Commonwealth Relations Office, thanking him for his letter, and commenting on conditions in India and Pakistan. He declares that the partition and the grant of Dominion autonomy have not assuaged the bitterness existing between rival communities, and that there is no real likelihood of positive co-operation between the two Dominions in the present climate, describing the work of the Armed Forces Reconstitution Committee and his own staff who have worked hard to make progress. The task of trying to partition the Armed Forces to the equal advantage of both Dominions is not an easy one; he admits that his original idea of maintaining joint training establishments, used by both armies, has failed because of the dissensions between Indian and Pakistan groups. He estimates that no more than 3,000 British officers out of 9,000 are likely to remain during reconstitution, and indicates that it will be difficult for both Governments to find sufficient officers of the requisite experience and knowledge to fill the high command and staff appointments.
Auchinleck suggests that these facts have made little impression on some Indian politicians who are determined to nationalize the officer cadres as quickly as possible, but he thinks that the Pakistan authorities appear to be more reasonable, because they do not intend to promote Dominion officers too soon or too quickly. In his opinion, they are certain to ask for the services of quite a number of British officers, even after reconstitution has been completed, whereas India may not ask for any, apart from a few technicians who may be required to adopt Dominion nationality. He emphasizes that it is now urgently necessary, in view of the fact that reconstitution may be completed by the end of January, for both Dominions to specify whether or not they wish to have the services of British officers after that date, and, if so, under what conditions and on what terms they want to keep the officers; and he proposes to present a paper on the subject to the Joint Defence Council. He notes Scoones' remarks in his letter on the payment of compensation, expressing concern lest any hitches should occur which would jeopardize the whole process of reconstitution through deleterious effects upon the morale and discipline of the British officers who have remained in India and Pakistan.
Auchileck refers, in conclusion, to the issue of whether Gurkhas wished to serve with the British Government or with the Government of India, noting that this was bound to cause consternation among some retired officers of Gurkhas; urges the adoption of a more realistic view, in face of the facts that not all Gurkhas wished to remain under British command and that a high percentage among the battalions were anxious to stay in India and were willing to serve in the army of India; and announces that the details of the transfer of battalions of Gurkhas to the British Government would be settled at the Tripartite Conference at Khatmandu. Typescript, signed.