Main job at UN will be to convince Arabs, neutrals
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, Sept. 20.—The Foreign Minister. Mr. Swaran Singh, levels for New York tomorrow, heading the 17-member Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly session.
From tomorrow, general discussions will start. One by one heads of delegations will address the Assembly.
So for as India is concerned, the biggest item on her hand is the Bangladesh issue for which the Indian Foreign Ministry and other agencies of the Government of India had till now done excellent work in various parts of the world.
But the task will not be easy for Mr. Swaran Singh and his delegation. The tough line will be to convince countries friendly to Pakistan (like most of the Arab countries) and the neutrals, and get a resolution adopted by the General Assembly asking for a political solution of the issue.
Strength to the Indian stand has been added by the Soviet-Afghan joint communique issued day before yesterday. The communique had underlined the need for a political solution and creation of source conditions for the return of refugees to East Bengal.
On the part of Pakistan, efforts are being, and will be made to make the entire episode appear like an Indo-Pak issue.
It is pointed out by the Foreign Ministry circles here that the introductory remarks and the annual report of the Secretary-General, U Thant, had also added strength, to the Indian stand, through U Thant had not accepted the Indian line in toto.
Basically, however, he had referred to the need for a political solution and also conditions for safe return of the refugees. U Thant had at the same time, spoken about peace and security of the subcontinent and relations between communities. But he had made it an Indo-Pak issue.
The introductory remarks and the report by the Secretary-General are often quoted during general discussions.
But if India had a slight setback, it was in the draft communique issued by the nonaligned countries for the consideration by the heads of delegations from those countries. The draft had not for once mentioned the name of Pakistan or the need for a political solution
Indian team to UN
The only concession India could was to mention the “inalienable rights of refugees” when, it is interpreted by the Indian side, include the political rights also.
Nearly all members of the delegation which includes Chairman of the Policy Planning Board in the External affairs Minstry. Mr. D. P. Dhar the Foreign Secretary, Mr. T. N. Kaul and five MPs, have already reached New York.
The five MPs are Mr. Probodh Chandra Mr. Rudra Pratap. Mr. Ganga Reddy Mr. Bipin Pal Das and Mr. Nawabzada Ali Khan.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 21.9.1971