§ 6. Mr. Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about initiatives taken by Her Majesty's Government to promote a settlement of the situation in Pakistan and India.
§ 8. Mr. Shoreasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan with a view to promoting a political settlement of the war in East Bengal.
§ 9. Mr. Barnesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with the Governments of India and Pakistan.
§ 13. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's initiatives in connection with the situation within the Indian sub-continent.
§ 14. Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what results he has achieved by his urging the Indian Government to withdraw from the borders with Pakistan.
§ 21. Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will ask the West Pakistan Government to withdraw its forces from East Bengal.
§ 45. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to promote a political settlement in East Pakistan.
§ 47. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek powers to call immediately a meeting of heads of Government of India and Pakistan to discuss cease fire between the warring parties.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI would ask hon. Members to await the full statement which, with your permission. Mr. Speaker, I shall be making after Questions on this matter.
§ 28. Mr. Prenticeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on his exchanges with the Pakistan Government on the need to release Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to hold discussions with him on the future of East Bengal.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the House on 18th November, the Government have already expressed concern to the Pakistan Government about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. My present understanding 34 is that the trial of Sheikh Mujibur has not yet ended.
It is for the Pakistan Government to decide whether or not to hold discussions with Sheikh Mujibur.—[Vol. 826, c. 626–8.]
§ Mr. PrenticeI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but will he make it clear, either now or when he makes his statement later, that the only way to avoid prolonged bloodshed and suffering is by the immediate withdrawal of the Pakistan Army from Bangladesh and the release of Sheikh Mujibur so that he may take over the duties to which he was elected by his people a year ago?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI shall be making a full statement on these matters after Question Time, but perhaps I can reply to the right hon. Gentleman in this way: we have repeatedly stated our wish to see a dialogue take place between those in West Pakistan who hold the power and those who can command confidence in East Pakistan. So far we have been unable to achieve this.
§ Mr. Greville JannerIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that Sheikh Mujibur is alive? Is he aware that there is a good deal of speculation in India and East Pakistan about whether this gentleman is alive?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs far as we know, Sheikh Mujibur is alive. The hon. and learned Gentleman will understand that we have no method of being certain, but we think that he is alive.
§ 31. Mr. Shoreasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is for economic aid, other than food aid, for Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.
§ 35. Mr. Prenticeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now cut off non-project aid to Pakistan, as a sequel to the decision not to initiate new project aid in present circumstances.
§ Mr. WoodWe have pledged no new aid to Pakistan this year, but we are honouring our obligations under the existing loan agreements for both project and non-project aid. Now that war 35 has broken out, it is possible that aid shipments may not be able to reach Pakistani ports.
§ Mr. ShoreI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will use this period during which supplies are bound to be delayed in arriving in Pakistan to rethink his whole aid programme. Will he consider very carefully what part our aid programme can play for the eastern part of East Bengal, which may well be emerging as a new State but a State with very great economic needs?
§ Mr. WoodI think that the right hon. Gentleman is in no doubt about my concern ever since the difficulties began this spring over the inevitable delay in the resumption of our aid programme in East Pakistan. I am still very anxious that the programme should be resumed and that conditions should exist to allow me to resume it.
§ Mr. PrenticeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all of us who have held his office are bound to recognise that the way in which aid has flowed to Pakistan in recent years may have contributed to the difference between the two wings of Pakistan and therefore has been one of the contributory causes of the present crisis? Looking to the future, is the right hon. Gentleman's Department preparing plans for a substantial aid programme for Bangladesh when it shortly becomes an independent State?
§ Mr. WoodWe have examined the needs of East Pakistan this year and we shall do so in future. As I have said, we shall be examining the situation very carefully in the next few months to see when conditions are suitable for a resumption of the very much needed aid.
§ Mr. TinnDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that a good part of our aid to Pakistan was required because of irrigation work and work on dams which had to be done in the Indus Valley because of India's unilateral action some years ago? Can the right hon. Gentleman explain what benefit there can be for the people of Pakistan if assistance with beneficial work required to be done because of Indian action against the people of West Pakistan is withheld?
§ Mr. WoodI agree with the hon. Gentleman. I cannot believe that that 36 would bring any benefit to East Pakistan. That is why we have continued the Indus Valley project.
§ Mrs. HartIn view of the events which have taken place in the last week or two, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be entirely appropriate if the British Government were to seek to convene a meeting of the Pakistan Aid Consortium and the India Aid Consortium with the purpose, first, of maximising immediate aid to India and, secondly, of ensuring that a programme of aid to East Bengal, presumably as a separate State, can be initiated at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. WoodNaturally I shall take account of the right hon. Lady's suggestion, but my present feeling is that it might be premature to convene meetings of the consortia until we can see more clearly what the situation will be.
§ 56. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the evacuation arrangements for British nationals in Karachi, Dacca and other areas involved in the fighting between India and Pakistan.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I shall be making after Questions.