The leadership of this country to precipitate negotiations and permit the early access to East Pakistan by international organizations will at least blunt the full weight of famine and avert the commitment of the entire population to a radical guerilla warfare allied with powers which would be hostile to ourselves.
The information on which these statements are made is extensive, first hand and current. Some of the source material is enclosed for your perusal. Although I doubt that it will add to what you already have at hand from Consul Blood.
I hope you will be able to give this your closest attention as it clearly involves the balance of power between countries and peoples which represent in the aggregate the second largest in the world. The loss of millions of lives in a famine will inevitably focus world attention in this area. Immediate steps are needed to avert this and a wait-and-see attitude will lead to disaster the track record of the West Pakistan Government after the cyclone and their current performance indicate that any aid given by this route will not be affective. International action seems mandatory.
Sincerely,
William B. Greenough, III, M. D.
Chief,
Infectious Diseases Division.
