India wants arms issue clarified
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, June 23.-The confirmed report of the U. S. shipment of arms to Pakistan has put both India and the USA in a very embarrassing situation
Embarrassing for India because the USA had assured the External Affairs Minister. Mr. Swaran Singh, last week that nothing of this kind would happen. But the moment he had landed at Delhi Airport last night, he had been faced with the arms shipment report, originally scooped by the New York Times.
It is learnt, the External Affairs Ministry is trying its best to secure some sort of explanation from Washington so that the Minister can face the Lok Sabha tomorrow when this subject comes up in the form of a call-attention notice.
The USA had assured Mr. Singh during his talks with President Nixon and the Secretary of State, Mr. Rogers, that they would do nothing which would strengthen the hands of Pakistan’s military regime and thus retard or cancel a political settlement with East Bengal.
Meanwhile, India expressed her concern over this development when Mr. G. L. Stone. Charge d’ Affaires of the US Embassy here, called on the Foreign Secretary, Mr. T. N. Kaul. Indian officials had made Mr. Stone aware of the dangerous consequences of the arms shipment.
The External Affairs Ministry has asked the Indian Embassy at Washington for a full report on it. The US Embassy also has promised to report back to the Ministry.
The Indian Foreign Office is of the opinion that a hard core of proPakistani “hawks” in the Pentagon is responsible for this shipment of arms at a time when it is liable to be used for the suppression of the democratic forces in East Bengal and more of genocide there.
It was also pointed out today by Indian officials that such acts by the USA would go to burden India with more of Bangladesh refugees, about six million of whom had already crossed over to the Indian territory.
Informed sources here thus, believe that the shipment has been deliverate on the part of certain influential quarters in Washington.
(UNI adds: It was not immediately known what explanation Mr. Stone offered for the US decision to send two shiploads of arms to Pakistan in violation of its own arms embargo imposed against Pakistan following army strocities in Bangladesh on March 25).
When the issue was raised in the Lok Sabha today by some Opposition members, the Speaker, Mr. Dhillon, said that he had already admitted a call-attention notice on that.
The members also wanted a statement from the External Affairs Minister about the outcome of his foreign tour.
The Minister, who had returned here yesterday, said that he would make a statement on his tour the day after tomorrow. Some questions may he permitted after the statement.
Meanwhile, Mr. Frank Kellog, the Special Assistant to the US Secretary of State, (incharge of Refugees and Migration Affairs), told the Union Rehabilitation Minister, Mr. Khadilkar, here today that the international community should put pressure on Pakistan for a political settlement with Bangladesh.
Otherwise, he warned, the region would be a cockpit of guerilla activities threatening the democratic fabric in the area.
He was of the opinion that the US Ambassador in Islamabad has been trying his best to make Pakistan realise the seriousness of the situation.
During his 30-minute talks here with Mr. Khadilkar, Mr. Kellog had promised more of US assistance to look after Bangladesh refugees in India.
The US official said, India had “handled the job of providing relief to the refugees superbly.”
Mr. Kellog is understood to have told the Union Rehabilitation Minister Mr. Khadilkar, that he did not think that the New York Times report about the shipment of US military hardware to Pakistan was correct.
He assured the Minister that a clarification from the U. S. Government would be available to the Government of India by tomorrow.
He left for Calcutta this evening. Mr. Kellog would submit detailed report to the State Department and would also acquaint India to what extent the US assistance would go up the six million mark and that it might go up by a few million more.
Mr. Kellog had agreed with a suggestion made in Europe by Mr. Swaran Singh that refugees’ camps, under the supervision of the United Nations, should be opened inside East Bengal.
Later, at Dum Dum. Mr. Kellog had no comment in offer on the arms shipment, our Airport Correspondent adds.
Mr. Kellog who had earlier said that humanitarian purpose had brought him in India was asked if his ‘humanitaraian purpose’ was not contradicted by the despatch of military hardware to Pakistani, “I would not like to comment on that My mission is humanitarian and not political”, he said.
He told newsmen at the airport that he had “very constructive talks” with the representatives of the Government of India in New Delhi in connection with relief for the evacuees from East Bengal. Mr. Kellog said that he would assess the quantum of relief required for the evacuees and would submit a report on his return home.
Mr. Kellog who came to Calcutta on a three-day stay will visit some evacuee camps in the border areas and will have talks with the Central and State governments on matters relating to evacuees.
Agencies add: An all-party group of Members of Parliament delivered an “emphatio protest” to the American Embassy here this afternoon over the shipment of arms.
The protesting MPs in New Delhi shouted anti-American slogans as they marched into the chancery, and handed a letter of protest to an Embassy official.
“Stop playing a double game”.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 24.6.1971