UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., Dec. 4—As the Security Council met on the Indian‐Pakistani crisis, diplomats and officials here expressed mingled hope and cynicism as they recalled past United Nations efforts at snuffing out conflicts.

As early as 1947, the world body showed that it could end a shooting war, in Indonesia, and in 1965 it cooled off border war between India and Pakistan, which, it was feared, might have drawn in Communist China.

“We accomplished something in 1965,” one rumpled Secretariat official said today as delegates gathered for the Security Council session. “May be we can do it again.”

Idealists here, and they are numerous, cited the organization's roles in stopping wars three times in the Middle East, its quick response when South Korea was invaded and its work in the Congo and on Cyprus.

But its critics, and they are numerous, cited its lack of success in framing enduring accommodations for peace.

“What we do best,” one young Western diplomat observed, “is make words, not peace.”

On this Saturday morning, no Secretariat employes complained of working overtime. One Northern European said, “We have a saying in my country: ‘If you work in a pharmacy, you cannot be sure to get your sleep.’”

The United States delegate, George Bush, looked as though he had had little sleep indeed, but the Italian delegate, Piero Vinci, was urbane in a blue blazer.

Chinese diplomats, including Pekin's regular representative, Huang Hua, appeared at the Security Council offices after representatives of the other four permanent members, and their arrival caused sighs of relief.

Their membership is the main change since the Indian‐Pakistani crisis of 1965, which followed 17 years of discord and frequent appearances of the question in the Security Council.

During the first half of 1965, tension rose, culminating in three weeks of fighting over the desolate Rann of Cutch.

During the period, both Governments sent a series of messages to the Security Council about the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

On June 30, the two parties agreed on a cease‐fire on the Rann of Cutch, but later, after hostilities broke out in Kashmir in August, the Security Council held 12 meetings about the dispute.

Menon Reaction Recalled

Long‐time United Nations observers still delight in recounting how the fiery Indian delegate, V. K. Krishna Menon, reacted when he noticed Sir Pierson. Dixon of Britain scribbling on a pad during a Menon speech.

The debate had gone on for hours at that point and Mr. Menon's nerves were on edge.

“You could at least listen to my words,” he said, “I've listened to your boring speeches.”

Later Mr. Menon seemed to make an indirect apology by praising the courtly Sir Dixon before the Council. But other members were amused to hear Mr. Menon, apparently unrepentant, say in a stage whisper to an aide, “What else, do have to take back?”

Ina message in April, 1965, that was similar to yesterday's speech by the present Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, India charged that Pakistan had committed flagrant acts of aggression.

But in 1965 India chose to make the accusation in a letter to the Council.

In the present week of crisis, qualified sources said that as of yesterday India had sent no communication directly to the United Nations.

This is apparently because this year India has taken the position that Pakistan is seeking to “internationalize” the problem to advance her own interests.

In September, 1965, the Secretary General reported to the Security Council that the problem of Kashmir had become acute and represented a potential threat to peace.

That report almost paralleled Secretary General Thant's re port about the present Indian Pakistani situation, which was made public here this morning.

In 1965, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a Kashmir cease‐fire, which was effectively implemented.

Many observers here have concluded that the United Nations action was effective be cause it provided a face‐saving way out for the armies of both sides which, it is felt here, had bogged down in a stalemate.