682 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড people in the States who understand what the issues are and who will do everything that they possibly can to see that the outcome is favorable. I am personally convinced that once the American strategy becomes what it ought to have been from the very beginning, the days of this criminal regime in West Pakistan will be numbered. Mohammed Roem* Indonesia Mr. Chairman and Distinguished Delegates: I came here in my personal capacity. I know the man who is at the head of the Committee and who issued the invitation and I could not refuse. What I am going to say is strictly my personal opinion. I hope it will contribute to the solution of the very grave problem with which this conference is faced. The identity of East Pakistan is of much interest to many Indonesian circles. But I myself was attracted when you came to Jakarta and addressed the Foreign Relations Association on the question of East Pakistan, and what you said, Mr. Chairman, at that meeting impressed us very much. You had said, "Friends of Pakistan are friends of India. And Indonesians are friends of Pakistan and friends of India." We had in mind the undivided Pakistan. If one hopes to solve this problem he must participate in seeking the solution. And, therefore, we have supported wholeheartedly that the Conference come out with a solution. At one time there was a talk in Jakarta between two friends-one Indonesian and the other from West Pakistan. The Indonesian said that the most dangerous thing was the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Pakistani friend agreed. Mr. Chairman, I do not agree that Bangladesh is a domestic problem of Pakistan. If that as the theory, Indonesia would not have come into being. I want to tell you a story which is now history. And sometimes this is also called one of the very few successes of the United Nations. It is the story of the successful U.N. intervention in the problem of Indonesia. U.N. intervention can take the form of good offices, not necessarily mediation which has the deciding power. Good offices bring with it more power and are supported by public opinion of the world. I think this is one of the ways we have to pursue. There was a conflict between the Dutch and the Republic of Indonesia. May be that conflict was in a sense different from the tragedy in East Pakistan. But I think in the long run it is the same thing. If a situation in some country is a threat to international peace, it cannot remain an internal problem. It is clear that the situation in East Pakistan is a threat to international peace. It can develop into much graver things. There is no reason why the United Nations and Security Council should not interfere. In Indonesia's case the Dutch claimed that it was an internal question of the Dutch Empire but the Security Council was not of the same opinion and it appointed a Committee of good offices. The presence of the Committee in our country at that time was very useful. So I would submit this idea to the conference. I think that in this case India is not the proper country to bring the issue before the United Nations. There will be many sympathetic countries who would be willing to do this job.
- Attended the Conference as Observer.
