পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৩৮

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

| {} ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড Mr. Shore: In view of the many allegations of very brutal repression in East Bengal, has the Right Hon. Gentleman pressed upon the Pakistan President or the Government the desirability of introducing observers into that country to see whether these grave allegations are correct, and, if they are, to exercise a restraining influence? The Prime Minister: The Right Hon. Gentleman will not expect me to reveal the contents of confidential exchanges that we have had. I would agree with him that where there are allegations and misrepresentations of a situation the healthiest way of dealing with it is to have observers, under an international organisation or from certain countries or from the Press, who can see the situation for themselves. Mr. Hugh Fraser: While I am sure the House is grateful to my Right Hon. Friend for the action that he has taken, may I ask him whether there is any chance of getting international relief organizations to operate in East Pakistan? Up till now, although many are waiting to go, none has been allowed to get in. This is a very urgent matter, and I wonder whether my Right Hon. Friend can tell us anything about the talks that he is having with the Pakistan Government on this point? The Prime Minister: I know that the international relief organizations are in many cases prepared to help in this very difficult situation. We are in contact with those organizations which have approached us in this country I hope that in the course of the next 48 hours they will be able to render help. There have also been talks with the international organizations, but I cannot at this moment give my Right Hon. Friend any firm details as to when it will be possible for them to render assistance. Mr. John Mendelson: In view of this serious situation, would the Prime Minister agree that it might be time to use the medium of the Commonwealth or perhaps a group of Commonwealth Prime Ministers to make a joint approach? Would it not also have the advantage of avoiding any further sharpening of the disagreement between India and Pakistan? The Prime Minister: If I thought there was any reasonable prospect at all of that being a helpful move I would not hesitate for one moment to take it, but the Hon. Gentleman and the House will realize that certain frictions exist between Commonwealth countries over this problem and I am not sure that it would be helpful at this moment to bring them together about it. Mr. Biggs-Davison: Do not some of the questions asked by Hon. Gentlemen opposite on this question reveal the impression that some of them have not got used to the idea that Britain is no longer the imperial Power in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent? The Prime Minister: I agree with my Hon. Friend that we have to respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan and its sovereignty as a State. I have always made absolutely plain to the President of Pakistan that this is the position of the British Government. At the same time, there is deep feeling in this country and the House about the problems which exist. This was shown in the different situation which arose when part of East Pakistan was hit by the hurricane and there was an upsurge of voluntary effort