Distribution of Relief. Supplies
The Committee added an amendment to S. Con. Res. 21 which is designed to encourage the administration to take such measures as may be appropriate to expedite the distribution of relief supplies in East Pakistan. According to the Department of State, adequate food supplies are available. However, unless facilities and other channels of distribution are cleared, there is a potential danger that a serious food shortage could develop and result in a famine.
Executive Branch Position
The department of State is opposed to the enactment of S. Con. Res. 21. In a letter dated May 6, 1971, the Department points out that “Much has already been done *** that parallels the basic concern expressed in the concurrent resolution." In addition, the Department states that it would appear desirable to continue to supply military items to Pakistan in order to “maintain a constructive bilateral political dialogue and to help ensure that Pakistan is not compelled to rely increasingly on other sources of supply." The State Department letter is incorporated in the appendix to this report.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. as amended, military assistance is authorized to be furnished to foreign countries for the purpose of strengthening the security of the United States and promoting world peace (Sec. 503). In addition Section (a)(1) (C) of the Act provides that “no defense articles shall be furnished to any country on a grant basis unless it shall be agreed that it will not * use or permit the use of such articles for purposes other than those for which furnished." Moreover, sub-section (d) of Section 505 provides as follows.
(d) Any country which hereafter uses defense articles or defense services furnished such country under this Act, the mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended, or any predecessor foreign assistance Act, in substantial violation of the provisions of this chapter or any agreements entered into pursuant to any of such Acts shall be immediately ineligible for further assistance.
One of the justifications for furnishing military assistance to Pakistan is to enable that country to combat the external threat of Communist aggression and to prevent internal communist infiltration and subversion.
By no stretch of the imagination, however, was it intended that such assistance would be used for the purpose of suppressing freely elected representatives of the people and killing innocent civilians. In the words of Senator Mondale.
There is something very wrong when guns, tanks, and planes supplied by the United States are used against the very people they are supposed to protect.
In the Committee's view, the manner in which U. S. military equipment was used in East Pakistan is in “substantial violation" of Chapter 2 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and it recommends that the Senate approved S. Con. Res. 21 without delay.
