পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/১২৯

101 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ উপমহাদেশীয় পরিস্থিতি সম্পর্কে কমনস সভায় | কমনস সভার কার্যবিবরণী | ৪ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ Statement by Sir Alec Douglas-Home, U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the British House of Commons November 4, 1971 To come to the sub-continent of India, two great countries-members of the Commonwealth, whose friendship we value-now find themselves drawn as if in some Greek tragedy into a rising spiral of tensions with a risk of war. The human misery, which exists here on a massive scale, is a terrible reminder of the failure of human beings to learn that the peoples of this world want bread more than politics, and peace more than war. My Right Hon. friend the Prime Minister and I had discussions with Mrs. Gandhi when she was in London earlier this week. I am sure that the House will understand that the matters which we discussed are confidential and that 1 cannot give a full account of them. We have also been kept informed by the Government of Pakistan of how they see these matters. In this emergency situation, caused by the flood of refugees into India-we should understand the disruption of Indian life which this situation has caused in many waysthe policies of the Government have been directed towards two aims. First is the relief of the suffering, which is pitiful and widespread. We have contributed £15 million to the refugees in India and £2 million in relief to Hast Pakistan. Having done this, I think that we are justified in urging other countries to join us in this humanitarian effort to a greater extent than they have done up to now. Second is the politics of the situation. The danger of a warlike confrontation between these two countries is dire and real. In this situation, our first duty is to urge moderation on all concerned, using such influence as we can. I have repeatedly expressed my view that real progress towards a lessening of tension, and the return of refugees, can only come through a political settlement within Pakistan as a whole! But, having said that, I must add that no one else can lay down the constitutional pattern for the future except the Pakistanis themselves. Unless it is done by the Pakistanis, no solution will stick. After the convulsion of civil war, harmony is difficult to restore,. President Yabya Khan has appointed a civil governor. He has proposed by-elections in December, and announced 27th December as the date for the meeting of the new National Assembly. He has arranged an amnesty. He has accepted United Nations reception centers for refugees returning from India. I state these as facts. I cannot say whether these moves will be sufficient to result in a situation of confidence in which the refugees will wish to return to Pakistan from India. But that must be the end for which everyone of us must work. The return of the refugees is of mutual interest to both India and Pakistan. In the meantime, we will continue to urge both Pakistan and India not to take any action which could threaten the peace of the sub-continent. To compound the existing misery with war would surely be the ultimate disaster.