Kissinger fails to bridge gap
From Our Special Correspondent, New Delhi, July 7.-The Prime Minister told Dr. Kissinger, Adviser to the American President, that India could not live with the Bangladesh problem for a long time and that it would have to be resolved without the least delay.
Mrs. Gandhi said the developments in Bangladesh were of grave import for India and affected the values which had sustained democracy in this country since independence. The time factor was extremely important.
Indian authorities are wondering why Mr. Nixon’s Adviser chose to visit New Delhi at all at this moment. His talks with Indian leaders have failed in any way to narrow down the differences between the two countries on the Bangladesh issue.
Dr. Kissinger, who brought a letter for Mrs. Gandhi from Mr. Nixon, was not in a position to say that Washington would review its decision to continue to supply arms and spares and give economic aid to Islamabad. Nor would be explain what type of arrangement Washington had in mind when it spoke of the need for a “political accommodation” in Bangladesh.
His meeting with Mrs. Gandhi lasted 40 minutes. They began their talks with the help of their aides who joined them after 15 minutes. Earlier, he had discussions with the Foreign Minister, Mr. Swaran Singh, for about an hour and a half. There was a meeting between him and Mr. Subramaniam, the Planning Minister. He is leaving for Pakistan tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. Swaran Singh acquainted Dr. Kissinger with the dimension of the political, social and economic problems arising out of the events in Bangladesh and how they were affecting this country.
The refugees who had come to India would not go back to Bangladesh unless there was a settlement which would convince them that their life and liberty would be safe there.
It appears that Dr. Kissinger argued that military supplies being given by the USA to Pakistan were spares and non-lethal.
The Indian leaders said that so-called non-lethal supplies were capable of starting the engine of destruction. Moreover, the political impact of these supplies was very great.
It was pointed out to Dr. Kissinger that General Yahya Khan in his broadcast of June 28 had taken a totally negative attitude towards a political settlement in Bangladesh. No one should imagine that the struggle in Bangladesh could end on the basis of his statement. The elected representatives of Bangladesh had already totally rejected it.
What General Yahya Khan was doing in Bangladesh constituted a serious threat to the peace and security of the sub-continent. India could not delink his action from the massive U.S. Military assistance of over $2 billion to Pakistan since 1951.
UNI adds: About 30 members of Parliament belonging to various parties today marched in a procession to the US Embassy and demanded that Dr. Kissinger should “go back immediately.”
Prominent among the MPs were Mr. Bhupesh Gupta. Mr. C. K. Chandrappan. Mr. S. M. Bancrijee (all CPI). Mr. Shahi Bhushan. Mr. Amrit Nahata (Cong-R), and Mr. Tridib Choudhury (RSP).
Chanting the slogan “Kissinger go back”, the leaders condemned the US action in sending arms to Pakistan at a time when the Pakistani Army was killing innocent civilians in Bangladesh.
An Embassy Official who accepted a memorandum submitted by the MPs assured them that the feelings of Indian leaders would be conveyed to Dr. Kissinger.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 08.07.1971