termination of the present contract, with effect from

October 1, 1947.

A joint announcement by the Government of India and Pakistan says:

It was announced on September 27 that, since the Supreme Commander’s Headquarters was likely to close down much sooner than was at first anticipated, it would be necessary for new contracts to be made with those British Officers whose services the Governments of

India and Pakistan desire to retain after the closing down of that headquarters. It was explained that both Governments were now, as a matter of urgency, considering whether they wished to employ British officers in their respective armed forces, and if, so, how many in the various ranks and services, and the terms and conditions which they would offer. In conclusion, it was stated that when agreement had been reached on this matter with His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, it was the intention of both governments to publish their terms simultaneously.

It is contemplated that the terms in question will be published in the near future. Consequently, the

Governments of India and Pakistan have decided that all British officers, and British Other Ranks now serving with the Supreme Commander’s Headquarters or with the armed forces of India and Pakistan shall be given three months’ notice of the termination of their present contracts, with effect from October 1, 1947. In other words the present contracts of those officers and

Other Ranks who volunteered to serve on during the reconstitution of the former Indian Armed Forces, will expire on December 31, 1947.

It will of course be clearly understood that this notice of termination of existing contracts will not involve any interruption in the service, in the sub-continent of India of those officers and Other Ranks who are offered and accept the new terms of either Government.

NEW DELHI, October 2: India will have an Indian as Commander-in-Chief from January 1, 1948. It is understood that the Government of India have decided that as a matter of principle an Indian should hold command of the country’s armed forces.