LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN, 1ST EARL MOUNTBATTEN OF BURMA

India and Pakistan had separated and each wanted Kashmir to affiliate with them. Caught between the two countries, with a both Hindu and Muslim population, Kashmir tried to steer a neutral course and remain independent. Muslim irregular troops in small bands infiltrated into Kashmir started a campaign of terror—rape, pillaging, burning and looting. Kashmir was falling apart under the pressure. To survive, the Kashmiri Maharaja asked for help from India with accession being the price. India beat back the Muslim terrorists and, India and Pakistan have been fighting against each other over Kashmir ever since. See {618270} for the response which dictated the history of Kashmir for the next 60 years.

Even into the 21st century, the problem was not solved and Muslims from Pakistan continue their futile but tragic terrorist tactics to try and acquire more territory from India." 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

This famous quotation, from this important address, at such a critical time in history has been admired for years. Despite his great oratory, the next months were to see almost 2 million Indians of all faiths killed in what was probably the worst internecine violence in human history. Ironically, the politically motivated terrorism had stopped since all the decisions had been made. The motivation for the frightful atrocities that took place from then on was vengeance and fear of more vengeance." 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

In the early part of Jinnah's career he was totally stable and regarded as one of the leading politicians in all of India. However, after some terrible personal tragedies he was changed and was no longer very influential. In his later years he reemerged as the Leader of the Muslim League which in itself was different as he had always represented Indians without regard to religion. He also had become very rigid, egotistical, and aloof and exhibited a number of unbalanced behaviors that led Mountbatten to conclude that Jinnah had become a psychopath in his elder years. In negotiations he was very aggressive, unbending and was not interested in any compromise in negotiations which made them unfruitful and often useless. He was then 70." 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

A Tory party organizer called on Lord Mountbatten, assuming the aristocrat was a conservative, to sign a petition. 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma