areas. But-the newer world we seek will not evolve if we ignore these challenges to leadership, and lake comfortable refuge in the mundane patterns and attitudes of the past.
In the ease of East Pakistan-in the effort to help her people caught in the passion of conflict-I cannot believe that our Government and the international community stand paralyzed in face of great tragedy. The situation can no longer be ignored. At stake are human lives-innocent lives-Pakistani lives thousands, even millions of liveswhose destruction will burden the conscience of all mankind, unless something more is done to save them.
It is easy to deplore the repression and political disorganization in East Pakistan. It is easy to deplore the deteriorating conditions of the people. It is easy to proclaim a policy of concern. It is easy to advocate meaningful steps to ameliorate the conflict and bring relief to the people.
But such rhetoric is no alternative to action. And I strongly feel that whatever our own Government has done on the humanitarian needs in East Pakistan, has fallen short of what should have been done and, like so much of our moral and humanitarian leadership in recent years, has been done without a sense of urgency, creativity, and deep compassion for those in dire need.
And so today, as an American concerned about the dignity and preservation of the ultimate resource on our planet. I appeal for immediate action by the United Nations, which so far has chosen silence over leadership. I appeal to the leaders of Pakistan, to the leaders of other countries, and to our own Government, to support a mercy mission and airlift into areas in need. And, hopefully, the appeal of the Indian Government for assistance to meet refugee needs within her borders, will receive a sympathetic response by all concerned.
Let us leave no stone unturned in accomplishing this objective. But let us do so with meaningful action to meet immediate needs, and with the urgency a serious crisis of people demands.
