§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions are taking place with the Governments of the United States of America, the Soviet Union, and France with a view to ending the dispute between Pakistan and India relative to the situation in East Pakistan.]
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, we have been in touch with a number of Governments, including the United States, on the problems arising from the situation in East Pakistan. These discussions are still continuing.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, in view of the terribly grave situation is not that reply a little inadequate? Can we not have more information about what the British Government are doing and about these discussions? Could there not be a joint appeal by these Governments to both sides in this issue, followed by action in the Security Council of the United Nations?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I do not think the Answer was inadequate because Her Majesty's Government are particularly anxious that this problem should be solved. But it is one thing to be anxious and another thing to be able constructively to solve it. The noble Lord has asked whether we should not have four-Power consultations. The answer is that anv such consultations would require the agreement of Pakistan and India; and at the moment this does not seem to be possible.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not the case that Mrs. Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, is coming here within a few hours? Have not both sides suggested mediation? Has not President Yahya Khan suggested that the mediator should be U Thant? And has not Mrs. Gandhi suggested President Sadat of the U. A. R., because he is a Muslim and so might appeal to Pakistan? Cannot the Government explore those possibilities 848 before this terrible event may bring disaster not only to India and Pakistan but, by extension, to a large part of the world?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, if the United Nations is to involve itself at all it must be with the acquiescence of the two countries involved, and until now neither country has expressed a wish for Security Council involvement in this matter. But I can give the noble Lord an assurance that, as he said, Mrs. Gandhi is coming to this country and that the Prime Minister is going to have discussions with her on this matter.
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that many people share the concern of my noble friend about this situation? Is he aware that 9 million refugees have moved from East Pakistan into India and that Mrs. Gandhi has said that the Government of India have no intention of absorbing these refugees no matter what? Is he aware that many of us feel this is no longer a question that can be left entirely to the Governments in India and Pakistan, but is an international and human problem of enormous magniture; and that it is for the British Government and for other Governments in the United Nations which have influence over these things to act as positively as they can?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that the British Government are acting as positively as they can and that they are just as con-cerned as the noble Lord to see that this problem is resolved. The way in which the Government consider it should be resolved is by trying to have such consultations as they can with the appropriate people concerned.
§ LORD DAVIES OF LEEKMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that one country which may be very concerned now is the People's Republic of China; that this may be a pristine opportunity for the Government to exercise their common sense and to draw into the world's diplomatic discussions this great nation of China, in regard to this area in which she is very much concerned in the Far East, and that it may be worth while for our diplomatic aides to see what attitude this great people take towards this mighty problem?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, in the last resort this problem can only be cured internally by the people of Pakistan and externally by the peoples of Pakistan and India. It is towards this end that Her Majesty's Government are trying to make their representations.