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Title items-in-lndia - Indira Ghandi
Date Created 19/01/1966
Record Type Archival Item
Container S-0882-0001: Correspondence Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: with Heads of State, Governments, Permanent Representatives and Observers to the United Nations
Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit 19 January 1966
Bsar Hr* 2be Secretary-General"would be grateful ±f you would Kindly transmit the enclosed personal letter from. him to Her Excellency the I*r3bne Minister. Yours
e Bola-Bennett Sbder-Seeretary for Special l^litical Affairs
%* Br^esh '€., Hislira , Deputy §ermaneKb Representative of India to the tJnited Nations 5 Sast 6«H;a Street Sew York 21, lew. Torfe RM
19
Itear Hease allow w& to extend to yoa my wsraest personal congratulations OK your designation as the Prime Minister of India. I sen convinced -feat your great country has chosen well in selecting you, through its traditionally democratic processes, to he t&e Bead of its Governraeat- flhile I am equally convinced that your own goalities and experience in the affairs of State have ty themselves earned for ysu the eoafMenee of the people of India ia your ability to lead them, I also rejoice at the fiirther distinction you have brosgfot, on the one hand, to the family of your illustrious father and, on the other hand, to womanMod the world over. Knowing something of the extent of the responsibilities you are assuming tjoth for the welfare aacl the progress of your country and for the iicmeaBely important role it esa play in the affairs of Asia and the world, X offer you ray jaost sincere good -wishes snd all the support amd eneottrageifflefit of which 1 am capable* 2 recall with parti culsr pleasure oiar meeting last September j aad look forward to the contintistioB of our association. Yours sincerely,
ifeant
Sseelleacy ''!&*»*•• Jtodi^a Gfandhi India DRAFT
PERSONAL I V
19 January 1966
Dear Mrs. Gandhi, Please allow me to extend to you my warmest personal congratulations on your designation as the Prime Minister of India. I am convinced that your great country has chosen well in selecting you, through its traditionally democratic processes, to be the Head of its Government. TOiile I am equally convinced that your own qualities and experience in the affairs of State have "by themselves earned for you the confidence of the people of India in your ability to lead them, I also rejoice at the further distinction you have brought, on the one hand, to the family of your illustrious father and, on the other hand, to womankind the world over. Knowing something of the extent of the responsibilities you are assuming both for the welfare and the progress of your country and for the immensely important role it can play in the affairs of Asia and the world, I offer you my most sincere good wishes and all the support and encouragement of which (*srAJ I/capable. I recall with particular pleasure our meeting last September, and look forward to the continuation of our association. Yours sincerely,
U Thant
Her Excellency Mrs. Indira Gandhi Prime Minister New Delhi, India CVN/mpd
9 Fatosw^ 1966
TfeaaaSs you for- your Mod letter SI©. 78-BIG/66 dated
t «Hd«rstaasd .frSrn Asba-ssador BartfeasaxatM tlsat you 3® visiti^ t!^ United ' States this veu% I T0s* tfest lai th.0-
Her ' ' MIMsfcer of India.
ee: Iiiaaian Mission Mr. LemievDC (AdOO I A.JO3* 1OM3X iotox,
PRIME MINISTER INDIA.
/N0.78-FMO/66. New Delhi 11, February 2, 1966,
Dear U Thant, Thank you for your letter of January 19, 1966. I am touched and heartened by the warmth of your message of goodwill. The problems which confront us are, indeed, tremendous. You have been more than generous in.speaking of my capacity to deal with them. . ', . • Your last visit to India was brief and very much a business one. I. hope, in the not distant future, we shall have the pleasure of welcoming you to this country in a more relaxed atmosphere, when we can exchange ideas about the ways in which hundreds of millions of 'poverty- stricken Asians can find a better and fuller life for themselves and make their rightful contribution in the conduct of the affairs of the, world!. • : With warm personal regards, / x i Yours sincerely,
. (Indira Gandhi)
His Excellency U Thaiit, Secretary-General} United Nations, New York* CW/nt
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IncJ.ia cc - Petm Mission Mr. Lemieux TIMR PRIME MINISTER'S HOUSE No.lOl-PMO/67 ' NEW DELHI March 28, 1967
Dear U. Thant, I am touched by the x^armth of your letter of March 16 which has been forwarded by Ambassador Parthasarthy. I have been overwhelmed by the goodwill and generosity which I have received after my re-election as Prime Minister; but your greetings have a special significance and I value them. ¥e are looking forward to your visit early next month. I need hardly tell you that a warm welcome awaits you. With warm personal regards,
Yours sincerely,
(Indira Gandl/i)
His Excellency U. Thant, Secretary-General United Nations, New York. RCA POSN 350 UNATION 222422 222422/008 S NEWYORK 80/76 3 2050EDST UNGOVT PCTN CTD ETATPRIORITE -PC- HER EXCELLENCY SHRIMATl INDIRA GANDHI , PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA NEWDELHI (INDIA) I WAS DEEPLY DISTRESSED TO LEARN OF THE SUDDEN PASSING OF PRESIDENT ZAKIR HUSAIN. I KNOW THIS MUST BE A GREAT LOSS TO YOU PERSONALLY, AND ALSO TO- THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF INDIA. PLEASE ACCEPT, AND CONVEY TO MEMBERS OF BEREAVED FAMILY, AND ALSO TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENT, MY MOST PROFOUND SYMPATHY U THANT S SECRETARY-GENERAL £ U NAT IONS to
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I WAS DEEPLY DISTRESSED TO LEARN OF THE SUDDEN PASSING OF
PRESIDENT ZAKIR HUSAIN. I KNOW THIS MUST BE A GREAT LOSS TO
YOU PERSONALLY, AND ALSO TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF INDIA.
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ALSO TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN GOVERNMENT, MY MOST PROFOUND SYMPATHY = U THANT
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Bar Master di* OeOQfti ee: Mr. Warasimhan Mr* Lemieux UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, W.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)
CAUTION:^ ADVANCE RELEASE Press Release SG/SM/1162 Not for use before ' 1 October 1969 5 p.m. EOT Wednesday, 1 Ogtober
MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL TO PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
Following is the text of a message sent today by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi: On this day when the whole world is getting ready to celebrate the centen- ary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, I wish to send you and through you to the people of India my greetings and felicitations. "When I read and re-read the Charter of the United Nations, I am repeatedly reminded that so many of its provisions reflect the very ideals that Gandhiji preached and practised. The- Charter expresses the determination of the peoples of the United Nations to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person. It calls upon us to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours. In his own life, Gandhiji embodied these ideals and pursued them in his relentless quest for the freedom of India and for the equal rights of all. His doctrine of non-violence has inspired leaders of thought and action and his practice of civil disobedience has been successfully applied in similar circum- stances in many other parts of the world. It is in recognition of the fact that Gandhiji's principles have universal application and abiding validity that the centenary of his birth is being celebrated not just in India, the country of his birth, but the whole world over. I may also recall that the Charter states that armed force shall not be used save in the common interest. Gandhiji knew what we all know now that violence only breeds violence and violent action is countered by violent reaction. So long as there is violence in the hearts of men at the individual level, the quest for peace and security at the international level will remain difficult and elusive. If we can only exorcise violence from the minds of men, we could then build the temple of peace on a solid and enduring foundation.
,y V V, ,V. # n K ff n NEW YORK TIMES, Thursday! 2 October
.e 'Reevance of GaridhiL ^^ memory of Mohandas Karamch&fad"1 Gandhi,' whose 100th birthday anniversary is being observedJ today, was recently described as having become, at one and the same time, "inspiring and irrelevant" in the India of 1969. Certainly in .a world increasingly torn by conflict there is little evidencev of regard for -the teachings of theT twentieth century's leading apostle of rlorivib- lence.'Gandhi's own'.home, state', of Gujarat has been the scene-'in recent weeks ;pf bloody'communar strife. 'In the United Statesf -there*has been a. violent turn away from the 'compassionate leadership of Gandhi's. disciple, the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But if Gandhi's universal precepts are disregarded, it does not necessarily follow that they are irrelevant. Gandhi's basic belief that violence 'is not only immoral but- also in the long run impractical has yet to be disproved. Much of what he preached to Indians dur- ing the first half of .this century is still pertinent for others around the,world today. For instance, embattled Arabs and Israelis might ;ponder this: "If we have no charity, and no tolerance, we shall never settle our differences amica'bly and must therefore always submit 40 the arbitrament of a third party—foreign domination." Feuding Irish Protestants and Catholics would do well to heed Gandhi's warning that "the most heinous and most cruel1 crimes of which history has record have been committed under the cover of religion." ' Americans who still have illusions ofL imposing a Government of United States choosing on the South Vietnamese should remember that "[No] people exists that would not think itself happier even under its own bad government than it might really be under the good governance of an alien power." i ' There are'endless additional examples.-,of Gandhi's timeless wisdom. But even more important than what Gandhi preached was the example of his own life. This has been best memorialized ;;ih a ^tribute -from the late General. Smuts/ the South African leader opposed by Gandhi in the latter's struggle for equal rights for South Africa's Indian minority. General Smuts wrote: "It wasCmy fate to be the antagonist of a man for whom even then I had the highest respect. ... He never forgot the human background of the situation, never lost his temper or succumbed to hate, and pre- served his gentle humor everi in the most trying situations. His manner and spiril even then, as well as later, contrasted markedly with the ruthless and jboital'forcefulness which is the vogue in our dtay?' -'' always rare, never - NEW YORK ommiinal Strife, Observes Centenary of Gandhi's Birth
from left Prime pf J' ' Master Indira Gandhi; Vice President Gopal T Pathak; President ; Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Pathan leader known as the Frontier Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
By SYDNEY H. SPHANBERG background of the recent re- sion in the country.- Prime Special to The New. Tort times The communal riots have ligious strife that took hun- Minister Indira Gandhi, in a made mockery of all our cele- NEW DELHI, Oct. 2—In- dreds of lives in Gandhi's broadcast last night, said of dians celebrated the cente brations." Khan Abdul Ghaf- ; home state of Gujarat, the centenary: "It should be far Khan, the Pathan leader, nary, of the birth of Gandhi Indians — at ceremonies a day for rejoicing and "today by -acknowledging that who is known as the Frontier throughout the country mark- thanksgiving. But my heart is Gandhi, told memorial crowds too often his precepts of non- ing his birth.on Oct. 2, 1869, burdened with "infinite sor- in New Delhi today: "It is violence and. Hindu-Moslem, in the -harbor town of Por- row. How can I speak of him, distressing to see you have amity'are being ignored by ; bander—spoke sa.dly of the and how can we rejoice, after his.'-. countrymen. Against a extent of yiolenc'e and divi- what has happened last week? |JI5 Ghaffar: Khan had been a independence '•••. : ^clpse associate of the,/ shy the^ par|^ipn, of '^iti^-. subeon jshriveled man whom Indians tinerpfHtB: prpdomiHantlj^Hind i )re India; - aiid, .pr^dbminantly-, Mos G;C#me to call Mahatma, or the leni "Pakistan. o.great souled. He witnessed and Gandhi was one of th irsuppdrted Gandh'i*s successive several hundred thousand vie tims of the partition violence ^eamjiaighs of civil disobedience 1 Jn which,: fasting.!and, marches He .was assassinated by ; Hindu fanatic on Jan.: 30; .1 Oi' helped overcome the might of : Gandhi, who had. disapprove •Britain.^ ^^.- '--.^-:' •-,":,.,,.. -.,. of the division of India, had In those,- years of struggle, spent the months of the winte Ghaffar- Khan Jed the freedom of 1946 tramping .barefoo movement 'against the British .through; villages in Bengal and Punjab telling his listeners tha in? the Nortwest Frontier pro* the God they worshiped'under vince, now ;part .of Pakistan. different names was the same After independenci?. ;and pairtir Gbd and that the interests of tion in. 94.7, he campaigned for all Indians;,. Moslems and Hindu a -separate state of pqshtun> were identical. stan for his Pathans, for -Which : Lifetime of Self-Denial Pa!kis.tan jwledJiim fbr,5 years.! He Was then 77 years bid aric After ,his release in 1984, he'i had spent a lifetime',bf religious went to Jive among prttharis in}.' self-denial; perfecting the thing he called Stayagraha, or soul Afghanistan and cbritiniiad his'.' : force. .' ..;'..-.• campaign., fromthere.;/ V •'•/.- --,'. ; This Was 'the wellspring bf fVdsterday He arrived in.-Im the • campaigns of nonviolent for the first time since inde- resistance that he led beginning pendence to participate, in the in, 1913 when as a lawyer prac- Gandhi centenary. He received ticing in SpUth Africa he sue-' a hero's welcome; cessfully mobilized opposition .Tonight,, Ghaffar ,Khin;,who! to laws that 'sought to have is 80 years Old and has heart Indians living in: the Transvaal trbupJeY announced to a,crbwd issued special registration pa of more than 2^000 people, at a pers. ceremony he_re that, agajiist his - .through several imprison doctor's, advice,5 he would begin merits by the British arid a three-day protest fast tpmbr--., through many fasts he adhered row.' ."• - ''.' • :' '.'-.'••••••••'-• •'•"' " tb the view that a persbn must undergo sufferirig.-for;:the truth he declares and when discourse . "I have oortie, liere to.remind and argument fail, sacrifices ypu of Gandhi's teachings/' th<* must be made. . bearded v patriarch said. "If ,With the spinning wheel he there is any ; place f.or ftie to carried as his S3'mbol of the protest, it is here in India and.- good and simple life he became '•• now I am here-before you to a. rallying force for Indian na-j protest."; against . the 'violence tiohalism, crossing1 his country hatred .and cdmihunal feelings and pleading for a nonviolent prevalent in this country." struggle for self-rule, for a re- Other; Indian officials besides jection of untouchability, and thePrime^Ministe-r^w-ho is. not for die spread of hartdrspinning related;to Gandhi—echbedvthe that he thought would free: uiihappiness ofjGhaffaf Khan.: multitudes of poverty and of a i •President V, V.tfin.saM th>? dependence on shoddy town- made goods. riots in .Gujarat, whicfr., were T finally ..brought under , control As C-ha'far.- ! Char' prcpr.rsd : to 'begin his fas':, r^orarfi R. by-t-'-O-.-i-raiy 1"3/-. F.-;day. ;'• TS r- Desai,,. former Deputv prime . rude re'niJnder -*-\ us , that--'-vr: Minister, tbnirrht ended .a .fast have net ••• c'-"-srseci ,-•• ^';-'- that he began TI' d-?vs P"P PS a . selves sr4 thr^t violence •.-H'-'.-t'T; ."penance" until religious peace ugliest :fcrm still- ;ru)es. in cLi? : hearts.'-' , . ' - •'-.-' was restored, in .Guisrat: No /iridiiin ofne'in.'s; have . sot tho incidents were reported todpy death tpll from ,the religious *but a nighttime" curfew re- r'ots at about 500 .but rsUrbU: mains in effect in Ahmadabai unofficlnl rs.timr"?s nut a': ': Gandhi Week in State ' 1 : ilVTost, c''-.. :tj:e f ^' ' ' Governor; Rockefeller has is- sued a proclamation declaring shed occurred in the Capital ci;-; 1 ; ; the week of Monday, Sept. 29 '• of the -state, •:Ai ..m-\ds'7?.di';\7.'iq;'y. to .Sunday, Oct. 5 Gandhi Week the ribting'. be^ah, - and-• vvhere in New York 'State. In issuing, .Ciandhr lived- for more -than. £ his proclamation, the Governor decade'and-...launched the civil- noted that Gandhi "was the, dispbedience, canjpaign that forerunner of pur own late Jed... .to ....independence 22 years Martin Luther King who met the same.,fate irs'^n^hi--^ 'tW^' hes^incl2tljesiin'(i§i; c c MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, INDIA
October 3, 1969
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, I write to thank you most sincerely for the gracious statement made by you yesterday, in the Fifth Committee, on the occasion of the hundredth birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. We in India consider you a Gandhian in every way and your tribute, therefore, was even more touching and significant for us. I thank you also for the kind thought behind the message sent by you to our Prime Minister on this occasion. Kind regards, Yours sincerely,
UVlt/./ Si^d
His Excellency U Thant, Secretary-General, United Nations, NEW YORK, N.Y.10017
< L.L L*»
- MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, INDIA
October 6, 1969.
Dear Mr. Secretary-General, As I may not see you before I leave for India this evening, I am writing this letter to thank you for your very warm reference to Mahatma Gandhi at the meeting of the fifth Committee on 2nd October 1969. We all know, of course, how much you admire and appreciate Mahatma Gandhi and your public tribute to Mm on this 100th Birthday Anniversary was, therefore, not merely a conventional act but a true reflection of your sentiments. All my countrymen will greatly appreciate this as indeed they have done your message to our Prime Minister on this occasion. With best regards,
Yours sincerely, IX,/ c' 0
His Excellency U Thant Se eretary-General United Nations Hew York. CVH/CC v. - cc: Mr. Harasimhan Mr. Lemieux
30 May 19?Q
% dear Mrs. Just a Use to acldaotjledge your &in.d letter of £3ay ^ regarding the Souvenir that you aad your sisters are bringing out on the occasion of the seventieth birtMay of your mother , Mrs. on Awgust 3Bj 1970* I am vezgr sorry indeed that your earlier letter of February di
Ife-s. 3Kfaya«tara Sahgal ^ Lodi Sstate He^ Delhi™5 India NAYANTARA SAHGAL 44 Lodi Estate New Delhi-3 February , 1970
^_^ - .1* Dear U 1 k
(Mrs.) Nayantara Sahgal
U TK^LKf-,
l^eJOQ^ ^ ^ fc^~ 3 East 64th Street, New York, N. r. 70027 • Telephone: TRafalgar 9-7800
No. 11/1970 PRESS RELEASE Juno 12, 1970
PAK15TAN..EXPLOITIMG. RE.LIGION. FOR, FOLI.TJCS INDIAN FORE^GM MINISTER DEPLORES CAMPAIGN
Replying to queries by the Indian pressmen, the Minister for External -'iffairs, Mr. Dincsh Singh, said, June 11: "You have asked me obout Pakistan's attempts to take up the communal issues in the
U.N, In fact, it has been Pakistan's constant endeavour to exploit religion for political purposes. Ihcysofton their efforts when they see that they nre getting exposed, but make r; bid in this direction
-.-.-henever they find on opportunity.
The leaders of Pakistan must understand that Pakistan does not have either the right or any justification for insulting the
Muslims in India by trying to portray Pakistan as their protector end guardian. In this process, Pakistan has already done a r.r-eat deal of harm to them.
Pakistan has even been trying to involve other countries into making appeals to us* These countries, which have recently been targets of these so-celled Pakistani r.ppoals, .are led by people with o greater sense of responsibility and realism cnd3 so far, there have been no
;,hird countries so short-sighted as to interfere in our internal nffairs, c=s Pakistan is trying to do.
_MaJl t re..." tme nt _oj... Mi no ri t i e s, in P.- k i s t.a n
i-'kistnn's declared and official policy of intolerance of
Pakistanis who r,re not Muslims, certainly does not qualify them to
... 9 . tench us how to treat our minorities, Pr-kistan is never in the world press regarding its minorities for one simple reason, that in large areas, particularly of West Pakistan, they have solved their problem by wiping out the minorities altogether. Ir. the rest of Pakistan, viz.. East Pakistan, not only are t.ho non-Muslim Pakistanis reduced to second-class citizens,, but they do not, in fact, exercise even p;,he of ordinary rights/property granted under the law. We have no intention of solving our minority problem in this manner.
In spit-:. of all the strident Pakistani propaganda, there has been no migration of Muslims from Indis. In fact, Muslims have been coming to India from Pakistan. Our record, in the matter of minorities, is very different from that of Pakistan. Ir, India., the growth rate of population of Muslims has more than kept pace with that of tho other groups and sections of society. In Pakistan, not only has the population of non-Muslims not registered any increase, but the number of Hindus hss dwindled from yeer to year. Let Pakistan remember that t.hv history nnd philosophy of intolerance end bigotry has been so strong in Pakistan that it has oven resulted from time- to time in the raass-ncrcs of the minority sects nnd groups of Muslims themselves, lot ^lone Buddhists, Christians,, Hindus end other minorities.
f Hindu Refugees into India
/is you know, during the last ceverrl months, Hindu refugees from £ast Pakistan hove been pouring into India at on alarming roto.
Almost 76,000 have come in since? January this year. What hr,s normally been a trickle, has now become r. downpour. In tho last fc:w weeks, it has been reported that thr-y sre coming in at the rrte of 2,000 per day,
•ve C:res particularly, saddened to notice how cynical
Pakistan is in deliberately trying to inflame the opinion of the
non-Muslim majority in India against the Muslims of India. It is
my hope - and my plea to my countrymen - not to be taken in by
Pakistani propaganda and to give full equality and security to oil
Citizens, especially the minorities. I know that we have some times
sadly departed from this, but I also know that the overwhelming majority
of the people in Indie- have deplored these departures and are making
efforts to see that they are not repented,
i'akistani Ta.cij.c.s ,iri West Asja Unwelcome
"r.kistan is trying to build up •?• facade of Frn Islamism.
Even progressive forces in West Asia are finding their efforts unsavoury.
We feel that the introduction of religion as r, factor in such s cynical
and vicious manners in order to camouflage narrow and selfish parochial interests, is wrong and bound to fail. In the process, Pakistan is
hurting the interests of Arabs fighting for their political rights*
as we oil realise3 but we are sure that the Arabs are co.pable of looking
after their own interests. We are firmly opposed to antideluvian
religious forces backed by ex-colonialists and we shrll naturally
resist them.
Interference Charge Rejected
'~.c must, categorically, reject the accusation made recently in the Pakistan Press that India has had r-nything to do with the political
and constitutional processes in Pakistan. We have not the slightest
uesire to interfere in the internal political developments in Pakistan. - 4 -
"-'e have always believed that this was the concern of the people of Pakistan. r.-lone. We have no desire to carry on ,n running argument or quarrel with
Pakistan. Elements in Pakistan do not appear to have accepted the fact of partition PS we hove done. Sooner or later, for her own emergence as a free and riemo.-ratic nation, Pakistan will need a friend south of the Himalayas.
Accord
'.'e had hoped that after the Tashkent Meeting, where the heads of the governments of both Pakistan end India had declared to the world their solemn resolve to undertake the normalisation of relationship and to seek bilateral peaceful solutions to differences, n new chapter in Indo-Pakistan relations would be ushered in. Despite inflammatory statements made in Pakistan, we continue to hope that our oft-proferred hand of friendship to Pakistan will not always be ignored. We wish the people of I-akistan well. We respect Pakistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have no designs .-gainst i-akistan, but vie shall also not toierato any designs against us.
The outsiders and third countries, whom Pakistan tries to inject in our bilateral problems, will do well not to take upon them- selves this role. ROUTING SLIP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION TO: The Secretary-General
FOR ACTION POUR SUITE A DONNER FOR APPROVAL POUR APPROBATION FOR SIGNATURE POUR SIGNATURE PREPARE DRAFT PROJET A REDIGER FOR COMMENTS POUR OBSERVATIONS MAY WE CONFER? POURRIONS-NOUS EN PARLER? YOUR ATTENTION VOTRE ATTENTION AS DISCUSSED COMME CONVENU AS REQUESTED SUITE A VOTRE DEMANDE NOTE AND FILE NOTER ET CLASSER NOTE AND RETURN NOTER ET RETOURNER FOR INFORMATION XXX POUR INFORMATION
Date: FROM: 2/XI/TO DE: Rend de Branche
CR. 13 (11-64) V. 27 ,,0ct,,70 INDIA, B H,U T A.:N "& ,S I K K X M 0 1
RETURNS, COMMENTS ON U.S. RELATIONS
Bombay PTI in English 0527 GMT 27 pet 70 D (FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY)
[Text] New Delhi Oct 27 (PTI)—India'S prime minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, said here today that in her discussions in the United States she expressed India's view on the question of arms supply to Pakistan but received the same answer "as we used to from the Soviets."
Mrs Gandhi, who had met the new UAR president, Mr Sadat, at Cairo yesterday on her way back home, said that the situation there was one of stability. She said it was remarkable how they had settled down after having been faced with the tragedy of Mr Nasser's passing away.
The Prime Minister was talking to newsmen soon after her return to the capital after attending the United Nations silver Jubilee celebrations at New York,
' The United States ambassador in India, Mr Kenneth Keating, was present. His failure \ to turn up at the airport during Mrs Gandhi's departure to New York last week had ! attracted attention and the U.S. State Department had expressed its regret.
Both Mrs Gandhi and the minister of external affairs, Mr Swaran Singh, who returned by the same chartered Air India Boeing, made light of the incident. "There is nothing in this", Mrs Gandhi told pressmen in reply to a question. "I am sorry so much has been made of such a small matter".
Mrs Gandhi was asked whether it was tfrue; that the normal diplomatic protocol had not been observed by the U.S. authorities while she was in New York. She replied that shj__d^d_not go to^the United^^a^g^j^ "l^t^ll;31 v^sjt" Her visit was only to the UnTtedT Nations.
Asked why she had declined the invitation to President Nixon's dinner in Washington to heads of governments and state, Mrs Gandhi replied that this would have meant an extra day in the United States. After the long Journey, she said, "we were all very tired and I did not want to increase our stay by an extra day."
Mrs Gandhi was asked to clarify India's position in respect of Kashmir in the light of an Indian spokesman's reported statement that India was always prepared to discuss the Kashmir question with Pakistan.
She replied that there was no change in India's stand which she had quite recently clarified. The accession of Kashmir, she said, "is a fact of history now". She had not seen any such statement as was reported to have been made by an Indian spokesman and so she had no comment to make.
Referring to her meeting with President Yahya Khan of Pakistan, she said "there is nothing in it. It was only social."
Referring to her talks with the U.S. secretary of state, Mr Rogers, Mrs Gandhi confirmed she raised the threat posed to India by the supply of arms to Pakistan. "We expressed our views to them (Americans). Their answer is the same as we used to receive from the Soviets".
A correspondent asked the Prime Minister whether the American leaders, whomrshe had met in New York, were able to satisfy her on their decision to give arms to Pakistan, CVH/nt
EERSCRAI*
15 March 3.971
My dear Jteime Ministerj
I have been following the results of the elections in India with the greatest interest and I was delighted to learn of your resounding victory in the election to the Lok Sabha. I ijelieve that under your leadership dttring the coming five years, India ^11 continue to make great progress ia every field, With say warmest personal regards,
Yours sincerely>
tf
Her J&jcslleney Smt« Indira Gandhi frirae Mini&ter of India Hew Delhi ? India
cc - Mr'. Karasimhan Mr. Castrounis^ CVH/pbg
TOt Iff 3.
la latter of 1? 1
Sis Minister of External Affair® Sew ee; Peraaneat Hep3*eseatative of loflia, H3f Mr1. NafaeinfiiaB/" Mr* Lemietix \f Cc .
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, INDIA , C amp: Wash ington, DC. " "• ^ June 17, 1971
P I -"•*--£ •%A*-4s~l<3&J\- I o ; When we met on Tuesday, the 15th of June, we discussed chiefly political affairs and I was so concerned to convey to you our sense of deep anxiety at the situation developing in the eastern part of the sub-continent that I did not mention anything else.
I wished to invite you to visit India as our guest. We very much hope you will be able to accept. Not only the Government of India but all our people look forward to your visit and you can be assured, as usual, of a most warm welcome. We shall also gladly receive as our guests all those who may accompany you.
As I may not have an opportunity of extending this invitation to you personally before I leave USA, I am sending this letter through Samar Sen. He tells me that you may find it convenient to visit India early in September, especially as you may be going to Mauritius at the end of August. This will suit us very well and you may wish to indicate to Sen if you can accept this invitation and the likely time of your visit to India. Details such as the duration of your stay, the names and number of people who may come with you and the exact travel plans can be worked out as soon as the date of visit has been fixed. We will greatly' look forward to your being with us.
With warmest regards,
fW (Swaran Singh)
His Excellency U Thant, Secretary General of the United Nations , New York, NY. - V
cc. Mr. Lemieux OU3G3PA
Bereonal 1J August 19TI
Excellency, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your personal message concerning the reported impending trial of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, which vaa transmitted to me by your Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 11 August 1971. I have given the most serious attention to your message and I fully appreciate the Importance you attach to this problem, both in the humanitarian sense and in view of its implications for the situation in the area. The fate of Sheik Kujibur Rahman is also a matter of great concern to me. My reaction to reports concerning hie impending trial is set forth in a statement made on my behalf by the United Nations spokesman on 10 August. A copy of this statement is enclosed for your information. I am sure that Your Excellency is aware that since the beginning of the events of March 19T1, I have been exerting my best efforts, within my competence and authority, to prevent an aggravation of the situation in East Pakistan. I wish to assure you that I shall continue to do so, with, as I am sure you will understand, all the necessary discretion and lack of publicity, I take this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency thai assurances of my highest consideration.
U Thant Her Excellency •ghrtoati Indira Gandhi Minister of India Delhi, India a•V 1' ,;,-•*'..'...:•.' i'ViX> {•• • ....;•'«< l?>»; F; -• .'.;' v • •!•''•' vJw"-l!'**-"<'"A '• f'lisse tha'"'&i3acNjS> to tsassmit to you &©:m¥$tti a to ths letter of 3.6 ^»«esfee^ 1971 sSsiefe S®r ^jriB«ti Jis&lm 0ffisibi.j, ?£*£%» liiBlstsx1 of t© -a®. I sbaa24 fee gmteful if jreu w
of
Sis Mr, of India to a ^tiom .last cc: Sec-Gen President of Seceo Mr. Kutaltov Mr. Guyer . Urqphart 22
of ym$ let$&r of 1971 ia offer of good offtegSjf seaf in ^rticalas'^ four tfeat srotss1 So^ersataetit fess sao Sests^ te israftrotee c^iflict -with lildlit&fi. , hosevear, puaaled Igr the reference ia fa^agampli 5 of Year letter to *tls& pseaemt atteimgfe t© save tbs millt^^r of Bafeistaa ©ael % tfee statesasat that ***J!o sifetrsck this ta&ia sa& t& csmiv©y| It into as laSo-ltekistaa dispite 0aix only I eta also gtiaalsi 1?y the ^tatetaeat is paragsTapfe 8 tfemfc If I 8351 prepsBftact, to ^vle^ the pj^lem in perspective** I shall Isave tfee sayporfe of tbe Indian Ctoverameiat. IB Hev o? tiiegfe Sta'fcaa&ati®, I fi@ei obliges t® isa&e ci^as1 t© four ^ejalleaey ay Intmttiesis ia offesli^ sijr good offices. My letter at $D Octolses1 t«,s de2J.^©Kately written i« tbe coated of lay raeaoffaa&i of 2© ^ra3y 19T1 aMf&s&sA to tfes Jjpesiaest ©f the Security Council teolc into aeei&yat tl«ss0 aapeets edf t&s sitaatioa ^hieB Touaf saeatioas la yoaif i-&tt«y. la fact I fcM iateaded ttet this -would s@zve E« tte tea?m of sbfesnesace for the exereiae of a * &e&«ro3LIy &aiefcd$$ fee visrs? tMs ^©sy serious s 'in tBe b#oa€e§t $$sgit&e ^e^speetive aaS had tiagedl to have the 3fg0s"tattity to 3?e^ri«w It uith tibe l^aelers of "bestfe OeTPejiasa^nta* It aot Eiy inte»ti€m te sMetx^ck say of t&& ^,m issues SKJT to to ©r^- single pirfciealar ia««e^ aithosa^i as SeeyetsMejr^Geae^al^ f eeoua&t OT^ter the Cfeerbe? threat to i-stsOTmticaasl fesce snfi sseurit^ sueh as to exist in the sufj-eontiinmt. ^s Yoar SSeceiLl^ioy kno«t# tis© exereise of good offiees sssast 6K& cs-^e^mtioa of all tb® |®rfclas ecsicer»®€» Gnder present eiream0tanees? maete to s^ $©@ret, tbare floes not seem to 1?© a "featis for the esa&speiss of t&s Se No.PR/1/71(13) November 16, 1971 Dear Mr Secretary-General, I enclose the text of reply from my Prime Minister to your letter of 20th October. This reply has been received by telegram. Yg-t*** ( S. Sen ) His Excellency U Thant \v v Secretary-General, &*( \f\ ' ; ! United Nations, r^ v x,,_J New York. y /lX Text of Message from the Prime Minister of India, Shrimati Indira Gandhi to His Excellency U Thant, Secretary-General, United Nations. Excellency, Your letter of the 20th October was received two days before my departure on a long tour abroad. It was not possible to reply until my return to Delhi. My trip gave me the opportunity of discussing the crisis in Pakistan with a number of leaders in different countries. 2. We have avoided any hasty reaction to the recent events in Pakistan which have naturally caused you and us great concern. I am sure you will appreciate our anxiety as the military authorities in Pakistan continue to pursue a deliberate policy of suppressing the fundamental freedom and human rights of the people in East Bengal and driving out millions of their citizens into India, thus placing intolerable political, social and economic burdens on us. In spite of the repeated declarations of amnesty, and "invitations" for the return of the refugees and claims regarding the return of normal conditions in East Bengal made by the military regime of Pakistan, the flight of the people of East Bengal into India has not stopped and provides tragic testimony to the continuing military repression and denial of basic human rights in East Bengal. The consequences of the activities of the military regime of Pakistan threaten and distort the entire fabric of our national life and pose a serious threat to our security. 3. Consistent attempts have been made by the Government of Pakistan to divert attention from the prevailing situation inside East Bengal and its own refusal to reach a settlement with the people of East p.2 ... CC; - 2 - Bengal and their representatives who were elected in a fair and free election held by the present Government of Pakistan by projecting the issue as an Indo-Pakistan dispute. The most recent manifestation of this policy is the movement of Pakistani troops and armour to our borders, threatening India with total war, and simultaneously launching a vicious crush and conquer India campaign. These steps confirm our belief that Pakistan is seriously preparing to launch a large-scale armed conflict with India and that we have therefore to take all necessary defensive measures, 4. I should like to assure you, Excellency, that we have no desire to provoke an armed conflict with Pakistan. Such measures as we have taken are entirely defensive. We have been constrained to take them because of the movement and positioning for offensive combat of the Pakistani military machine. We have had to bear in mind that Pakistan has moved her forces right up to the border although the cantonments where they are normally based are only a few hours distance from the border, while the bases of our own troops are located at several days distance. Indeed, we waited long enough before we moved our troops to the frontiers. 5. The root of the problem is the fate of the seventyfive million people of East Bengal and their inalienable rights. This is what must be kept in mind, instead of the present attempt to save the military regime. To sidetrack this main problem and to convert it into an Indo- Pakistan dispute can only aggravate tensions. 6. During these difficult months, we have taken every opportunity to advocate strongly that the problem of East Bengal can be solved only by peaceful negotiations between the military rulers of West Pakistan and the elected and accepted leaders of East Bengal. A first p.3 ... step towards the opening of such negotiations is the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as demanded by the people of East Bengal and their elected representatives. Instead, there is an attempt to establish phantom governments and legislatures. Indeed, I learn that fiftyfive persons have been declared elected "unopposed." Such undemocratic and entirely indefensible action cannot but increase bitterness. This farcical re-election should be stopped. 7. If the military regime in Pakistan persists in its policies, the situation in East Bengal is bound to deteriorate. Yet, there is no evidence of the wisdom or the desire necessary to seek a political solution of the problem. I believe that statesmen of goodwill all over the world are convinced that only such a solution could bring normalcy to that tormented region, stop the further influx of refugees and enable those now in India to return. You yourself have made several statement emphasising the need for such a settlement. It is tragic that the Pakistan Government have turned a deaf ear to all such appeals. Your offer of good offices could play a significant role in this situation. 8. It is always a pleasure to meet you and to exchange views. Whatever efforts you can make to bring about a political settlement in East Bengal which meets the declared wishes of the people there, will be welcome, and if you are prepared to view the problem in perspective, you will have our support in your initiatives. 9. I have stated my views frankly. It would not be fair to you not to do so,, for I know how anxious you are to prevent the aggravation of the grim tragedy of East Bengal. I had hoped to discuss these matters with you in New York but was very sorry to learn of your illness. I hope that you are quite well again. With warm regards, Yours sincerely, 16 November, 1971. Indira Gandhi. 20 Octefoer •Baas- !la» 1 ha#& the 11053&W to tmnssdt ts ym fccsmritb; a letter dated 20 Ocfto'biga? l^flj tfel^i I hasre aflSressed to lies* Shriiaati IMlra -SaJsahi,, 'l^ime fliMsta? of India, I vouM fee ' gratefal if ^ou mst&d kindly fon«ard this latter to the Prise of my hi^iest Sis isna. & tea tfe® l&sa&eil es&eartaiug Mtu«;M&.8 IB, Sfest f tins str»t@»» Sis t f ^5?i ©f tift© IB tfest ssrsa of I of a u tlse ttia Has* la tttai I to is sf tte "bt^ls as-a swsi s all. fit® is assft t® to It f if my ut t«» t© is ta *fe« -0 f to to