HC Deb 23 September 1971 vol 823 cc169-76
Mr. Healey (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the situation in East Bengal.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)

The situation in East Bengal still causes us deep concern.

Since my statement to the House on 23rd June there have been a number of developments in East Pakistan. President Yahya Khan has put forward proposals for the return to civil administration and government. A civilian governor has been appointed and has now named a number of civilian Ministers; President Yahya Khan has declared his intention to hold fresh elections and to establish elected Assemblies. An amnesty has been declared in respect of incidents between 1st March and 5th September, 1971. Many of those who could benefit from this may have fled to India.

We should like to see an ordered return to normal life in East Pakistan and welcome these developments as a step in the direction of the restoration of an elected civilian Government.

The situation in East Pakistan nevertheless still gives grave cause for concern. The flow of refugees to India continues unabated and the Indian Government now give the total figure as well over 8 million. This places an enormous burden on the economy and resources of India, and I should like to express my admiration for the manner in which the Indian Government have continued to cope with this unprecedented influx of people. It is not, however, a burden that India should bear alone. Her Majesty's Government have already contributed over £8 million in cash and kind for relief and rehabilitation in India. We have also contributed £1 million to U Thant's appeal for relief in East Pakistan. We hope that other members of the United Nations will also respond generously to the appeals of U Thant. We ourselves stand ready to make further contributions, as I have earlier told the House.

The House will, I am sure, share my deep concern at the reports of impending food shortages, infant mortality and disease both in East Pakistan and amongst the refugees in India. It is our firm view that the United Nations are best able to co-ordinate the international relief effort and that it is only through them that international relief can be made available on the scale required to avert a further major human tragedy. We shall support all efforts to increase the scope of the United Nations relief operations and I shall be having talks about this with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York next week. Our aim is to play our full part with the international community in bringing an end to suffering and the return of normal conditions to this troubled part of the subcontinent, including making it possible for the return of the refugees to their homes.

Mr. Healey

First may I thank the Foreign Secretary for his statement, and particularly for the tone in which it was made. May I say that all of us on this side of the House recognise that Her Majesty's Government have an exceptionally good record in regard to this tragic problem; but, as he himself said, the scale of the problem is far beyond the capability of Britain or India or any other single country or group of countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread concern throughout this country and the world at the possibility that millions, and perhaps tens of millions, of human beings may die before Christmas unless more effective action is taken by the United Nations organisation?

Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware of a point that I raised with him a month ago, namely, that when the monsoon ends there is great danger of war arising out of the situation in East Bengal—a war which might not be confined to the sub-continent itself? Will he, therefore, when he goes to the United Nations next week, take an initiative to ensure that the United Nations charges itself with control not only of the relief aspects of this problem but also the very serious and dangerous political aspects as well?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he said. This is a problem which daunts us all and, as he said, it is of an enormous scale. I think that the immediate danger is famine in East Pakistan in the months to come. Although it is difficult for us to obtain accurate information, the reports are that the food supplies are, on the whole, reasonably available but communications present a tremendous problem. One of the problems, therefore, for the United Nations is how to get communications going so that the food can go into the areas where it is most needed.

About all these matters I shall be talking to U Thant next week, and talking also, of course, to the American Secretary of State and others who are interested in the relief and human side of the problem.

On the political side, a settlement is necessary in order to secure the willingness of refugees to come back into Pakistan from India. This is a more difficult matter, and the United Nations cannot act without the consent of both parties. As I understand it, so far Pakistan has assented to any number of United Nations personnel on its side of the frontier to receive refugees. India has so far said that she could not have United Nations personnel to help the refugees, so to speak, to go back from India to Pakistan.

Mr, Healey

I recognise, as the Foreign Secretary does, that it is difficult for the United Nations to act in this problem without the consent of both India and Pakistan, but will he recognise also that there is grave danger to peace as well as to the lives of millions of human beings if the United Nations does not act along the lines already suggested by its own Secretary-General? Therefore, when the right hon. Gentleman is at the United Nations next week, if it is impossible to get India and Pakistan to reach agreement on how it should be handled, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether there should be a full discussion of the matter in the Security Council?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

In New York, I shall see the Indian Foreign Minister also, and I hope to discuss this matter with him. I do not know that a meeting of the Security Council would help in this case; but I am quite sure that it is necessary for both India and Pakistan to co-operate with the United Nations. Otherwise, as the right hon. Gentleman says, this could end in war.

Mr. Braine

Is it not often the case in famine situations that there may be plenty of food within reach but famine takes place because the food cannot be adequately distributed? Is my right hon. Friend aware that field workers from East Pakistan say that there will be a disaster of unimaginable proportions unless a major United Nations operation is mounted, and, if such a disaster does take place, the flow of refugees in India will increase, since hungry people do not stand still? May I, therefore, urge my right hon. Friend—from what he said today, I feel sure that he will do it—to take the initiative next week at the United Nations to draw attention to the pitifully inadequate response which other Governments have so far made to U Thant's appeals not merely for humanitarian relief in East Pakistan but for the support of India in facing the intolerable burden of caring for the refugees on her territory?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I certainly respond to my hon. Friend's appeal. I shall not only be seeing U Thant but I shall deal with these matters to some extent in a speech which I shall make to the Assembly. The important need is to secure the co-operation of Pakistan and India to try to solve this problem. If one stands aside, it cannot be solved.

Mr. Stonehouse

Will the Foreign Secretary take it that there is widespread appreciation on this side of the House as well as on his own for the humanitarian and sympathetic way in which he has responded to this problem? In addition to what he has said already about what he will do, will the right hon. Gentleman consider referring to this awful subject in his speech to the General Assembly and calling for a major United Nations initiative even going beyond cooperating with the Pakistan authorities, since the situation in East Bengal is confused by the civil war which goes on and since the writ of the Pakistan Army does not run throughout East Bengal and a large part is controlled by Bangla Desh? Will the right hon. Gentleman do that, and, further, in the light of what he said about a political solution, will he accept that this will be impossible unless Sheikh Mujib is released and is enabled to take part in the negotiations? Will the Foreign Secretary press, and ask the United States to press, Yahya Khan for Sheikh Mujib to be released?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, I think, we have made appeals to the President of Pakistan for clemency in the trial now going on. We cannot, I think, go further than that, but we have made very positive approaches. I shall take into account all that the right hon. Gentleman said when I see U Thant and when I deal with this matter at the United Nations, and I hope to report to the House after I come back.

Mr. Pardoe

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he said about the help which the British Government have given. Could he tell the House what his latest information is about the condition and health of Sheikh Mujib and the course of the trial, and give us any information he has about his likely release, since no progress towards normal conditions can be maintained unless Sheikh Mujib is released? Also, will the Foreign Secretary tell us what consultations he has had with other Commonwealth countries with a view to bringing joint pressure on Pakistan?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Many countries have approached the President of Pakistan. That I know. Beyond that, I think, it is not right to go in any public statement.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is not the movement of supplies within East Pakistan all important for avoiding or diminishing the effects of famine? The Pakistan Government were having some difficulty in purchasing vehicles, and some orders were being frustrated. Will my right hon. Friend look into that and see what can be done, if necessary?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

We have supplied certain shallow boats to help the distribution in particular areas, and we shall supply anything which is requested which we are able to supply; but my hon. Friend is right in suggesting that communications will be the main problem, not the supplies of food.

Mr. Paget

Will the Foreign Secretary agree that, while refugees and famine are the immediate issue, the fundamental issue is that the majority in East Pakistan can probably never again accept the rulership of the minority in West Pakistan after the conduct of the West Pakistan army? Can we have any permanent solution here which does not involve the breaking of this quite unnatural union of two nations 1,500 miles apart?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I do not know that it would be any contribution to peace if the two parts of Pakistan were to be permanently separated. I believe that a great many people would look upon that prospect with some apprehension. President Yahya Khan has declared his intention to hold fresh elections and to establish elected assemblies. I think that a great deal depends on the speed with which he can carry out this intention.

Mr. Molloy

I join my right hon. Friend the Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) in thanking the Foreign Secretary for his very prompt and humanitarian action in this sad situation, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the offer by President Yahya Khan for people to come and talk about a democratic solution can hardly be encouraging to those who may wish to do so inasmuch as the crime of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the reason for his incarceration is that he Indulged in a democratic election and won it? Further, will the right hon. Gentleman take into account that many voluntary organisations which are eager and ready to offer succour and relief to those who are suffering in Bangla Desh are not allowed to do so—in particular, organisations like War on Want—because of the actions of the West Pakistan Army? Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to make representations so as to allow these organisation to offer that aid?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I gather that the Pakistan Government are very willing to see the voluntary organisations operate, but they think that they can most effectively operate in the area which has recently been affected by floods. What I am certain of is that the United Nations organisation must oversee the whole relief effort. Otherwise, there will be confusion. But I hope that the voluntary organisations will be used.

Mrs. Hart

From what the right hon. Gentleman has just said, may I take it that he agrees that a substantial international presence would be required, first, to define where the food needs are, and, second, to distribute food without creating a system which could be used for military purposes?

Second, is the right hon. Gentleman completely aware of the great concern about the question that has been shown in various meetings this week amongst the aid agencies in Britain?

Third, while he is in the United States, will the right hon. Gentleman take the opportunity to talk with the World Bank Chairman of the Pakistan Aid Consortium both about the general effort that could be made to urge further upon Yahya Khan the need for a genuine political settlement rather than an artificial political settlement, and to discuss with him the problem of the need for considerable extra economic assistance to India?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I think that a substantial international presence will be necessary. There are 40 personnel now operating in East Pakistan, and I should think that many more are necessary, particularly those with expert knowledge of transport and communications. I am seeing the voluntary agencies tomorrow, and I will take up with them the question raised by the right hon. Lady and see how they think they can best help. I do not know whether I shall be able to see the World Bank Chairman, although I will try. As to aid to Pakistan in general, the Consortium must look ahead to a development plan for the whole of Pakistan. I think that the right hon. Lady knows that, with the consent of the Pakistan Government, the unanimous feeling in the Consortium was that the great majority of aid for the future must be centred on East Pakistan, but that that depends on getting a political structure there which will lead to political stability.

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