পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/২৪৪

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড

 We are also doing our best to provide assistance for the many refugees who have crossed into Indian territory. To meet immediate needs we have authorized three American voluntary agencies in India to draw on PL-480 Title II stocks in that country to help feed some, 300,000 of these refugees. We are also preparing to participate in an international relief effort being organized by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.


 As you have indicated, we have a continuing special interest in the relief and rehabilitation of the coastal areas of East Pakistan which were devastated by the cyclonic storm last November. In addition to our substantial PL-480 food grain assistance, much of which is still to be delivered, AID and a number of American voluntary agencies have extended help of various types for the rehabilitation of the cyclone affected area. Many of the programs contemplated were not able to get underway before civil strife broke out in East Pakistan. As soon as access can be gained to that area, we hope to resume the relief and rehabilitation programs already launched. We also hope to draw upon dollar and rupee funds that have been made available to initiate further programs in the area, on which negotiations have not yet been completed with the Government. Meanwhile, we are directing special attention toward getting food to the cyclone area as soon as the international relief effort in East Pakistan is launched.


 Regarding military supply, our spokesmen have expressed our concern over the reported use of some American weapons in East Pakistan and we have done so privately to the Pakistanis as well. We have not funded the supply of arms to Pakistan since our military assistance program was terminated in 1965 and we have not sold any weapons to Pakistan since then. We have had a limited military sales program with Pakistan since 1967 for the supply of non-lethal equipment, and ammunition and spare parts for equipment previously supplied. We have been informed by the Department of Defense that no items under this sales program have been provided since the crisis began and that the question of military sales deliveries to Pakistan is being reviewed.


 I enclose for your reference a compilation of statements on the East Pakistan situation made by the Department's spokesmen over the past two months. Also enclosed is a statement on the humanitarian relief efforts we are making, and are preparing to make, to assist the refugees from East Pakistan in India and the people in East Pakistan itself. I hope this information will be useful to you in understanding our position and the actions we have taken and plan to take with respect to the situation in East Pakistan.


          Sincerely,

          Christopher Van Hollen

          Deputy Assistant Secretary

          Bureau of Near Eastern and

          South Asian Affairs.


Enclosures:

 1. Compilation of statements

 2. Statement on humanitarian relief efforts.