communications so that food supplies can move speedily to the deficit areas in the province. International offers of aid have been gratefully accepted and the UN organization has been given a list of food grains and other requirements needed for the relief of the affected people in the near future. The Secretary-General of the U. N. has sent his representative of East Pakistan already.
You have advocated that individual governments and the United Nations must make strong efforts to encourage and facilitate political accommodation between our Central Government and what you call “political forces within the East Pakistan”. The political issue that caused the recent turmoil in East Pakistan was nothing less than the question without a clear mandate for such a course from the people who they represented. The movement which was suppressed in East Pakistan was secession, not autonomy and none should pretend that while secession was treason at home, it could be self-determination abroad. Those leaders who exceeded the mandate given to them by their constituents have fled the country and the political party they headed has been declared unlawful. It is entirely an internal matter now for those who were misled but remained and those who did not leave but never wanted secession to get together and settle the future of the province amicably with the people of the rest of the country, namely of West Pakistan. This issue is engaging our attention right now and the President of Pakistan has just said that he would be announcing his plans within the next two or three weeks for transfer of power to elected representatives of the people in the provinces. Any effort by other governments or organization (even if well meant) to interfere in this delicate and sensitive internal affair which in any case would be contrary to the provisions of the U. N. Charter is totally unacceptable to us. We are not surprised therefore that India is most assiduously canvassing this very course in the capitals of the would at present by sending so many members of her Cabinet abroad.
We appreciate your anxiety regarding the urgency for relief operations within East Pakistan. There is no need however to make the present general American economic aid to us, which is now a mere shadow of what is was once, conditional on our being made to give a higher priority to relief operations. We must give, and are already giving, the highest possible priority to saving the lives of our own people. To attempt to impose unnecessary conditions on American economic aid would only detract from the disinterested motives which, I am sure, the great people of this country would like to ensure governs all extension of aid from advanced to developing countries of the world.
You have made a plea that India should be assisted by the International community in meeting the expenditure involved in looking after our refugees temporarily while they are on her territory. We fully support your view and have in fact informed your government as well as many others including the U. N. Organization accordingly.
We also entirely share your concern in regard to the need for reducing the present tension between India and Pakistan. I have referred above to the various steps taken by my government to secure the return of our refugees and to meet any concern that India or the international community may have had in regard to this matter. But. I hope, you will also agree Mr. Senator that nothing should be done or said either by our neighbors or
