পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৩৩

ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Whose presence was not essential should leave the country if, in their judgment, they could make the journey to Dacca in safety. As a result, about 100 United Kingdom nationals have left Dacca by air, by Royal Air Force and civil aircraft, since my last statement; and about 40 have left Chittagong by sea. I should like to express my gratitude to the Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Sergeant and his staff in Dacca, to the members of the British community in East Pakistan, and to the members of the Royal Air Force and the Merchant Marine, who have been cool, resourceful, and effective in a very difficult and dangerous situation. Mr. Healey: The House will welcome what the Right Hon. Gentleman said about the Government's intention to give material aid to those who are suffering in the present situation, and also what the Right Hon. Gentleman said about the evacuation already carried out of British subjects. We join in the tribute he has paid to those responsible for carrying out that evacuation so competently in such difficult circumstances. In view of the very convincing reports of indiscriminate bloodshed in East Pakistan and the patent risk of external intervention in these events, may I underline to the Right Hon. Gentleman the importance of Her Majesty's Government using any influence they can bring to bear on the two issues to which the Right Hon. Gentleman has himself referred? These are, first, that there should be an immediate end to the bloodshed and, secondly, that there should be a peaceful solution of the political problems of East Pakistan in accordance with the wishes of the people of that territory, expressed with such remarkable unanimity in the recent elections. All of us in this House will, I am sure, be deeply concerned about the physical safety of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the other leaders of the people in East Pakistan. Has the Right Hon. Gentleman any information to give the House about their present whereabouts and situation? Can he assure the House that he will express to the Pakistan Government the desire of all of us on both sides of the House that people so recently elected with such an overwhelming vote should be treated with the respect they deserve in a democracy? Sir Alec Douglas-Home: We will certainly use any influence we have to make clear that we hope that bloodshed will be ended as soon as possible. There have been elections quite lately and there was the intention of calling together the Assembly to frame a constitution. We hope that these processes can be resumed. Certainly, too, we are interested in clemency and justice, but the Right Hon. Gentleman will not ask me to make a judgment about the internal affairs of Pakistan. Mr. Braine: While it is right that there should be no intervention in the internal affairs of a friendly Commonwealth country, is my Right Hon. Friend aware that the basic problem facing Pakistan is the sharp economic disparity between the two wings of the country? Is he further aware that the Select Committee Sub-Committee which went to Pakistan at the end of 1969 came away convinced that substantial outside help from the world community would be necessary if that disparity was to be corrected? Will Her Majesty's Government take any initiative in calling an early meeting with, or having discussions with, the World Bank and the Pakistan Consortium to see whether some definite and positive move could be made in this direction?