পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/১২৫

97 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Nations next week, if it is impossible to get India and Pakistan to reach agreement on how- it should be handled, will the Right Hon. Gentleman consider whether there should be a full discussion of the matter in the Security Council? Sir Alec Douglas-Home: In New York, I shall see the Indian Foreign Minister also, and I hope to discuss this matter with him. I do not know that a meeting of the Security Council would help in this case; but I am quite sure that it is necessary for both India and Pakistan to co-operate with the United Nations. Otherwise, as the Right Hon. Gentleman says, this could end in war. Mr. Braine: It is not often the case in famine situations that there may be plenty of food within reach but famine takes place because the food cannot be adequately distributed? Is my Right Hon. Friend aware that field workers from East Pakistan say that there will be a disaster of unimaginable proportions unless a major United Nations operation is mounted, and, if such a disaster does take place, the flow of refugees in India will increase, since hungry people do not stand still? May I, therefore, urge my Right Hon. Friend-from what he said today. I feel sure that he will do it-to take the initiative next week at the United Nations to draw attention to the pitifully inadequate response which other Governments have so far made to U Thant's appeals not merely for humanitarian relief in East Pakistan but for the support of India in facing the intolerable burden of caring for the refugees on her territory? Sir Alec Douglas-Home: I certainly respond to my Hon. Friend's appeal. I shall not only be seeing U Thant but I shall deal with these matters to some extent in a speech which I shall make to the Assembly. The important needs to secure the cooperation of Pakistan and India to try to solve this problem. If one stands aside, it cannot be solved. Mr. Stonehouse: Will the Foreign Secretary take it that there is widespread appreciation on this side of the House as well as on his own for the humanitarian and sympathetic way in which he has responded to this problem? In addition to what he has said already about what he will do, will the Right Hon. Gentleman consider referring to this awful subject in his speech to the General Assembly and calling for a major United Nations initiative even going beyond co-operating with the Pakistan authorities, since the situation in East Bengal is confused by the civil war which goes on and since the writ of the Pakistan Army does not run throughout East Bengal and a large part is controlled by Bangladesh? Will the Right Hon. Gentleman do that, and, further, in the light of what he said about a political solution, will he accept that this will be impossible unless Sheikh Mujib is released and is enabled to take part in the negotiations? Will the Foreign Secretary press, and ask the United States to press, Yahya Khan for Sheikh Mujib to be released ? Sir Alec Douglas-Home: As the Right Hon. Gentleman knows. I think, we have made appeals to the President of Pakistan for clemency in the trial now going on. We cannot, I think, go further than, that, but we have made very positive approaches. I shall take into account all that the Right Hon. Gentleman said when I see U Thant and when I deal with this matter at the United Nations, and I hope to report to the House after I come back. Mr. Pardoe: I thank the Right Hon. Gentleman for what he said about the help which the British Government have given. Could he tell the House what his latest information is