বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড airfield damaged air force planes and captured pilots. The local papers came out as usual with big news of the war. Reports of fierce fighting from Jessore, Comilla, Chittagong Hill tracts are still coming in. ૭૧ | ASIAN TOPICAL TALKS THE BRITISH PRESS ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN 7th December 1971 Edited by Evan Charlton (S) The British Press today gives extensive coverage of the war between India and Pakistan. There are also editorials in the major newspapers. The Daily Telegraph says that in announcing India's decision to recognize "The people's Republic of Bangladesh" Mrs. Gandhi could not have put things more plainly Now that "there was war, she told her M. Ps, "the normal hesitation on our part to do anything which could come in the way of a peaceful solution or which might be construed as intervention, has lost significance." Given Indian's policy and the stage which had been reached on ground in East Pakistan, the decision had indeed become logical. To give Mrs. Gandhi credit where it is due. it is a fact that, until the most recent developments, she did refrain from actions which could have impeded a political solution to the refugee problem which has hung so heavily round India's neck since March. The most obvious candidate to follow India's example says the Telegraph, would seem to be Russia, perhaps after prodding one or two East European Governments to move first. China supports Pakistan but might want a presence if a new Bengali state emerged. Washington in its present anti-Indian mood will oppose recognition. It is not enough for the world's greatest power simply to heap unbridled blame on India and threaten to cut off aid, after months of indecision on an obvious threat to peace says the Telegraph. The Guardian's editorial is called "Perils of Total Victory. Mr. Nixon may not like it. China may loathe it; but one fact emerges clearly" the Guardian comments. Bangladesh, born of blood and desperation will not go away now. This is the first major trophy of battle but the Guardian argues that a total Indian victory will raise more questions than it settles. Bengali autonomy is a just and worthy cause, but cannot be conferred from outside by the arch enemy of Pakistan. It cannot be cocooned in a puppet state says the Guardian. It needs its own leaders solving its own problems. The Times says that India in seeking a military solution to the political problem of East Bengal has left no room for compromise. It is clear to India and may well be true, says the Times, that Pakistan is totally incapable of bringing the people of Bangladesh back under its control. This is to be effected by a brisk campaign that will hand over power to the government that has been rather prematurely recognized.
