Second, our Government, in cooperation with others, should encourage current initiatives to include the tragedy of East Bengal in the debate of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. America's representatives at the United Nation should participate in this debate; and actively support reporting to the floor of the General Assembly a resolution noting the tragedy in East Bengal, calling on all' parties concerned to seek a political settlement, and calling on the international community to" contribute generously for the relief of the millions of men, women, and children in need.
Simultaneously, our Government should support the efforts of the Secretary General in bringing to bear the peace keeping machinery of the United Nations on the threat to peace posed by the actions of the Pakistan Army in East Bengal, and the resulting confrontation between India and Pakistan. In a definitive memorandum or July 20, the Secretary General sought the involvement of the Security Council, Saying:
The United Nation with its long experience in peace keeping and with its varied resources for conciliation and persuasion must and should now play a more forthright role in attempting both to mitigate the human tragedy which has already taken place and to avert the further deterioration of the situation.
The time is long overdue for our Government, in cooperation with others, to respond positively to the Secretary General's recommendation to activate the peace keeping function of the United Nations. Over 3 months have passed since this appeal, and time is not on the side of peace in South Asia today.
Third-to emphasize the urgency of our Government's concern over the deteriorating situation in East Bengal and South Asia-the President should appoint a special representative to communicate with the President of Pakistan, and other parties in the area. Given the long friendship between the United States and Pakistan, and the every substantial diplomatic and material support we have given to Pakistan, our country has a unique opportunity for offering leadership to help encourage the attitudes needed for achieving a political settlement between Islamabad and its Bengali opposition, and for bringing peace and relief to a troubled area.
Finally, we must move through the legislative process-as soon as possible-reasonable appropriations for relief needs among the refugees in India and the famine-threatened people of East Bengal.
Mr. President, South Asia today is on the brink of war and even greater human tragedy. I share the view of many Americans that our Government's policy toward the area has borne a special responsibility in bringing about this situation; for our past policy has encouraged Pakistan intransigency and fed frustrations in India and East Bengal. Today's announcement by the Department of State must be followed up with additional steps to rescue our foreign policy from a course that has been disastrous both to our best traditions and interests in South Asia.
