India and Pakistan (Hansard, 22 November 1971)

§ 2. Mr. Douglas-Mann
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further initiatives are contemplated by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the situation in Bengal.

§ 4. Mr. Lane
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on developments in Pakistan since his announcement of additional British aid on 18th October.

§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Joseph Godber)
As my right hon. Friend told the House on 4th November, the urgent need is to make progress towards a political settlement in Pakistan. We have been in frequent touch with the Pakistan authorities and we discussed the whole situation with Mrs. Gandhi when she was here. We are also in regular consultation with other missions at the United Nations—[Vol. 825, c. 352.]

§ Mr. Douglas-Mann
Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that virtually the only chance of avoiding war on the subcontinent is if conditions are created under which the refugees in India can return home to East Bengal and that they will return only if the West Pakistan Army is withdrawn from East Bengal? Therefore, will the right hon. Gentleman take whatever steps are open to him to exert pressure on the West Pakistan Government to seek to ensure the withdrawal of the West Pakistan forces as rapidly as possible?

§ Mr. Godber
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the most important thing is to create conditions in which the refugees can and will return. That is the basic problem; but I do not necessarily accept that that is the only prerequisite. We are considering every possible means of making progress, but I am sorry to say that so far we have not been able to achieve anything.

§ Mr. Lane
In this tense situation, will my right hon. Friend keep in mind the posible usefulness of some further Commonwealth initiative, perhaps through a visit by Mr. Arnold Smith?

§ Mr. Godber
We keep that very much in mind. We have not been able to make progress so far, but my hon. Friend will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development is at present in India and is discussing this as well as many other aspects with the Indian Government.

§ Mrs. Hart
Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how the British Government propose to vote this afternoon on the Netherlands and New Zealand resolution in the Third Committee which, I believe, includes a clause on the need for a political settlement within East Pakistan as well as clauses dealing with humanitarian aspects?

§ Mr. Godber
The right hon. Lady has expressed particular interest in this Third Committee matter before and I have considered it very carefully. Not only that resolution but another draft resolution is being discussed. We do not know which resolution will be put, but I am in very close touch with our delegation at the United Nations. However, if we can see any way of utilising the resolution with the object of moving forward, we shall certainly utilise it.

§ 10. Mr. Barnes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to his request that an on-the-spot team should investigate the latest position regarding the flow of refugees from Pakistan to India.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Anthony Kershaw)
The Secretary-General has told us that he doubts whether such an investigation would be practicable at the present time. I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of U Thant who is doing everything he can to help to avert developments that might lead to disaster.

§ Mr. Barnes
In view of the fact that a lot of the talk about a political settlement in East Bengal is rather vague at the present time, not least by the Commonwealth Secretary himself, would not 928 the Under-Secretary of State agree that it would be very useful if an on-the-spot team from the United Nations could establish, at least as far as the refugees in India are concerned, what are the circumstances which would have to exist in East Pakistan to attract them back in any numbers?

§ Mr. Kershaw
It is not for us or for my right hon. Friend to dictate to the Government of Pakistan what the elements of a political settlement might be. As to the United Nations observers in India, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that India takes the view that this is not a quarrel of her making and that, therefore, it is inappropriate for United Nations observers to be on her territory.

§ Mr. Wilkinson
Will my hon. Friend assure me that representations were made on this matter to the Prime Minister of India? Where such widespread suffering occurs it is imperative that the United Nations Agencies should get a realistic assessment on the spot of what international assistance is required, and so long as India prevents the United Nations teams going to border areas this is rendered extremely difficult.

§ Mr. Kershaw
The whole position was exhaustively discussed with the Indian Prime Minister when she was here. I must repeat that the political solution is primarily a matter for Pakistan, and perhaps India, and cannot be imposed by this country.