S-0868-0001-03-00001 Expanded Number S-0868-0001 -03-00001 Title Items-in-Peace-keeping operations - India/Pakistan - selected confidential papers on Indo-Pakistan Conflict - April - August 1971 - see appendix No. 8 Date Created 1910411971 Record Type Archival Item Container S-0868-0001: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant - India/Pakistan Print Name of Person Submit Image SignatureSgaueo of PersonesnSbi Submit ------------- ------------------------------------- Th6') I -t * L( b F I ( X-st c-tc 1' C4&. cL-t W5 k,--V -I- 4 ,f 9. 9 DEPARTMENT OF STATE GAA4 -LjIb(2 FOR THE PRESS June 12., 1971 No. 131 EAST PAKISTAN RELIEF The Department of State announced today that three US Air Force C-130 aircraft would leave Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina at 11:30 P.m.., June 12, to join a fourth aircraft already in India, to carry out an airlift of East Pakistani refugees from the crowded Indian state of Tripura. These aircraft, which were requested by the Government of India through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, will carry one million doses of cholera vaccine produced in the United States to help contain the serious cholera outbreak which has occurred among refugees in eastern India. The Department also announced that the US has agreed to provide air transport for up to 300 tons of rehydration fluid and other anti-cholera supplies being assembled by the World Health Organiza- tio~n in Geneva. In addition, the US has agreed to provide to the Government of Japan, on a reimbursable basis., US Air Force aircraft for trans- porting to India ten Jeep ambulances which the Japanese Red Cross is donating for medical work among the refugees in eastern India. In connection with these announcements,' Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs, explained the three basic elements of US policy in regard to the situation in East Pakistan. "The first", he said, "is5 that we are fully supporting international efforts to provide humanitarian relief assistance to the peoples of East Pakistan who have been affected by the civil strife. We are also providing full support to the international efforts to provide such relief assistance to the refugees from East Pakistan in India. Second, because of the possibility that the situation in East Pakistan and eastern India could escalate dangerously, we have counseled restraint on both sides. Third, we have made clear our belief that normalcy can be restored in East Pakistan only within the context of a peaceful political accommodation." In regard to the last point, Sisco explained that a political accommodation in East Pakistan is important both to stem the flow of refugees and to create conditions in East Pakistan conducive to their return. In this connection., he noted the current visit to Pakistan and India of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and hoped it would be helpful in seeking resolution of the refugee problem. -2- Summarizing US participation in international relief efforts in East Pakistan and India_, Sisco said that the US has now announced contributions of $17.5 million worth of relief assist- ance for East Pakistani refugees in India. This US Relief Program is being coordinated by an inter- agency committee on Pakistani refugee relief chaired by Frank L. Kellogg., Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Refugee and Migration Affairs., who departed for Geneva June 11 for discussions with the UNHOR. Following the~e discussions., Kellogg will be visiting India for discussions with relief officials there and for an on-the-spot examination of the problem. The US will provide food for 1,250.,000 refugees and provide other assistance, such as medical supplies., shelter, and trans- portation. In Pakistan, the US has urged the Government of Pakistan to request, and the United Nations to coordinate., a prompt and effective international relief effort. "We have been encouraged by reports of productive conversations this week between Pakistani officials and Mr. Ismat Kittani., the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General U Thant, and indications that a coordinated international relief operation in East Pakistan is being organized,," Mr. Sisco said. Within the framework of this international effort., the US this week has signed an agreement with the Government of Pakistan to provide $1 million in grant assistance for the charter of boats with crews from third countries to deliver food grains and other essential relief supplies to the cyclone affected areas in East Pakistan where serious food shortages now threaten. The US stands ready promptly to provide additional assistance in water transport, food and other supplies as may be required in East Pakistan., * * * Note -for the File 6 p.m., 11 June 1971 Mr. Jamieson, Acting Permanent Representatlive of the United Kingdom, said that Prime Minister Heath's message to President Yahya Khan emphasized the necessity for -haltingthe flow of refugees out of East Pakistan. To this end, the restoration of confidence was essential ) and Heath therefore urged the Pre~ident to make the political announcement envisaged in his statemient of 25 May. Such an announcement must include a guarantee of civil rights and a firm appeal to potential refugees to stay in their homes and to those who have fled to go back. The message concludes that this type of political development would be the key to continued and effective aid to Pakistan itself. CONFIDENTIAL UNITED KINGDOM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS 845 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK. N.Y. 10022 His Excellency 11 June 1971 U Thant, S ecretary-General of the United Nations, NEW YORK. S4~~4.- 1.ýý Sir Alec Douglas-Home has asked me to convey to you the following message. Thank you for your message of 8 June. I do recognise the difficulties, both political and practical, that you and your staff face. Happily there is a good deal of news coming out of the area of assistance getting through and I hope that the organisation will now be getting into its stride. I took the opportunity in Parliament on 9 June to pay a tribute to all the work that is being done. I have had a further talk with the Pakistan High Commissioner here and regrettably could get no firm information from him about further political movement by his Government. I am sure you share with me the view that unless an effort is soon made to win the people of East Pakistan to a measure of co-operation with the Govern~ment our humanitarian efforts will in the long run be frustrated. The Prime Minister is therefore sending Yahya Khan a message, which follows up those he has already exchanged with him, encouraging Yahya Khan to make a political move as soon as possible. One of the principal objectives of such a move would be to put an end to the migration of millions of people across the frontiers of East Pakistan which only ,jeopardises the success of your humanitarian operations. I am sure that this will not cut across your purposes. I have asked our people on the spot to keep Prince Sadruddin informed. CONFIDENTIAL C ONFIDENTIAL~ His Excellency UI Thant, Secretary-General of the United Nations., NEW YOIRK. SECRET 4~ June 14I, 1971 TALKING PAPER ON PAKISTAN FOR AM~BASSADOR BUSHt S MEETING WITH THE'SECRETARY...GENERAL 1. The United States Government attaches great importance to urgent steps designed to bring about an end to the refugee flow out of East Pakistan and a reversal of that flow. We have raised this matter on several occasions with President Yahya Kahn and other ranking GOP officials. 2. We are pleased'at the manner in which the Secretary General and the United Nations family of agencies have taken the initiative to assist with relief for East Pakistan and the refugees in India. However., it is certainly clear to the Secretary General as it is to us that refugee relief in India is only a palliative and that the establishment of prompt and effective relief and distribution in East Pakistan is essential. The slowness with which this is developing has been disturbing and we hope that it will now begin to speed up. 3. We consider the current refugee problem a potential cause of war which, if not rapidly resolved., could so upset and polarize the situation in South Asia as to endanger the interests of the great powers as well as the countries of the region. 4.~ We have been gratified to learn of Prince Sadruddin's trip to Islamabad., Dacca and New Delhi wh 'ere we understand he has discussed with the Pakistani and Indian authorities measures which might-be taken to reverse the flow of refugees. We have asked our Embassy in New Delhi to ask Prince Sadruddin for a summary of his discussions to date with Pakistani authorities. 5. We believe there is a need for some international bridge between India and Pakistan if the refugee problem is to be solved. 6. This bridge should consist 'of two elements. First., there is a need for some international presence to facilitate communications between India and Pakistan. Second, there is a need for a coordinated international machinery on both sides of the border both to send and receive refugees who are returning to East Pakistan. 7. Our very tentative thinking is that the United Nations family, because it is already involved in relief efforts on both sides of the border and because it is already in communication with both governments can provide this bridge. SECRET SECRET 2 8.We would appreciate very much having the views of the Secretary General on these matters in the light of his reports from.