পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৯৩

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65 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড I understood the Minister to say that the British Government took the view that they would embark on new aid commitments with the Government of Pakistan only if the aid could be effectively deployed. He said that, that meant that, there would have to be a political settlement, and that, that was a matter for the Pakistan Government and people to achieve. But how can we link, in the same phrase, the Government and people of Pakistan? What chance have the people of East Pakistan to achieve a political solution so long as they are held down by military occupation? Hopes have been expressed by Hon. Members about a political settlement. To me, those hopes seem incredibly optimistic. If it is left to the Government of Pakistan, I should have thought that there would be no political settlement in East Pakistan for a long time. Mr. James Kilfedder (Down, North): I am sure that the Hon. Gentleman would like to give credit where it is due. Does not he agree that the President and the Government of Pakistan showed considerable concern for having a democratic civilian Government in their country by holding elections when they did and ensuring that they were fair elections. We know that where military personnel control the country elections can be rigged, but that accusation has not been made in respect of the Pakistan elections. It has not been made against the President or the Government of Pakistan. Mr. Barnes: I agree with what the Hon. Member says, but I am talking about the situation that exists now-after 25th March. 1 say that what happened then and in the subsequent weeks means that there is no chance of a political settlement in Pakistan for a long time, unless political pressures arc applied on the Pakistan Government by the rest of the world. When the cry for self-determination goes up from 21 distinctly defined area of a larger country-whether it be East Bengal or Eastern Nigeria—the world must consider its own involvement in the matter. However distasteful it is for countries to attempt to apply political pressure through their aid commitments, it may be the only way in which they can help to bring about conditions which my Right Hon. Friend is hoping will exist before long. Politics is a very rough business. Sophisticated politicians in Western countries must not shrink from using crude political pressure when justice and humanity demand it. I welcome the efforts which the Government have made to get the international relief operation going, but I urge the Minister to continue to give maximum support to our own voluntary relief organizations, because international operations can take a long time to get under way. Our own organizations have a great deal or experience in this kind of matter and in diagnosing the immediate requirements. They can move fast and can do a great deal if they get the right backing from their Government. I should like the Minister to clarify what representations the British Government have actually made to the Government of Pakistan about getting relief into East Pakistan-both about international relief through the United Nations and also about our own voluntary organizations. The Foreign Secretary was questioned about this on Tuesday, but his answers were not completely clear. He spoke of communications difficulties and the fact that relief in East Pakistan had to be distributed by the Pakistan Army. I would ask the