India too large to be ignored : PM
WASHINGTON, NOV. 6.— Mrs. Gandhi told a public meeting here last night that “India is too large a country to be ignored,” report agencies.
Speaking from the pulpit of the Washington National Cathedral, she said that events in East Bengal which were upsetting India’s security were a threat to peace in Asia and in the world.
Mrs. Gandhi blamed the military regime in Pakistan for attempting to suppress the nationalist movement in East Bengal and added the local people were giving their total support to Bengali guerillas.
“Men have been wounded, killed and crushed by other men but the ideals of freedom have never been killed”, she said. “We have been through this in India. It is this spirit which helps men progress to new heights.”
She said the Pakistani Government could delay but could never halt the independence movement in East Bengal
She appealed for realistic recognition of the forthcoming independence of East Bengal and likened it to India’s long support for recognition and admission of China into the UN.
Some 3,500 people attended the meeting at the Cathedral which was organised by the Indian Students Association of the Washington metropolitan area.
Mrs. Gandhi was quoted as having said that apart from such arms as were in the pipeline, the USA might not give any more arms to Pakistan.
The statement was reported by members of a delegation from the Martin Luther King Foundation which, during a meeting with her yesterday, urged Mrs. Gandhi to get an assurance from the U.S. Government that there would be no more arms supply to Pakistan.
The delegation was led by Mrs. Coretta King, widow of the assassinated Negro leader, and included two Congressmen. Mr. Walter Fauntroy and Mr. John Conyeres.
Mr. Conyeres told the Prime Minister he was seeking to introduce a Bill in Congress for the stoppage of the proposed U. S. nuclear explosion in Amchitka today and for making over money thus saved for cyclone relief in Orissa.
The delegation expressed sympathy for Bangladesh refugees and support for India’s actions and policies regarding this crisis.
According to US sources, the U. S. Government is expected to make an announcement on the stoppage of further arms supplies to Pakistan within a few days.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 7.11.1971