Nixon refuses to stop arms flow : Senator
WASHINGTON, July 8.-Arms shipments to Pakistan are being maintained as a result of a ruling by President Nixon himself, it has now been revealed, report agencies.
Senator Frank Church, Idaho Democrat, charged in the Senate yesterday that military equipment worth $35 million was still in the pipeline for delivery to Pakistan. He said President Nixon had refused to stop the flow despite recommendations from the bureaucracy.
The New York times today quoted qualified sources in Washington to the effect that this figure was the total of the outstanding licences issued by the US State Department before the programme of military sales was “suspended” on April 6.
(However, the figure of $35 million, observers felt, might not be a clear indication of the quantum involved since much would depend on from where it was procured. Stores released from defence surplus normally were valued at much below the real market price).
The New York Times also said today that the State and Defence departments had prepared a memorandum listing the outstanding licences and recommending to the White House that they be cancelled. President Nixon, however, reportedly ruled that shipments be continued.
Meanwhile, the West German Minister for Economic Cooperation, Dr. Brhard Eppler, said in Bonn yesterday West Germany would send no further development aid to Pakistan until it fulfilled specific economic and political preconditions.
In a radio interview with Suedeutscher Rundrunk. Dr. Eppler said these pre-conditions were: introduction of an economic stability programme for the whole of the country; currency policy measures even to the extent of devatuation and a political settlement for East Bengal which would satisfy all sides.
West German development and technical agencies have for the time being stispended work on new projects in Pakistan and according to Dr. Eppler, further decisions on development aid will be postponded until after the autmon meeting of the World Bank Consortium for Pakistan, of which West Germany is a member.
President Nixon’s assistant on National Security Affairs. Mr. Henri Kissinger, called on President Yahya Khan in Rawalpindi this evening.
According to Radio Pakistan, Dr. Kissinger, who flew to Islamabad today from New Delhi, earlier had a meeting with the Economic Adviser to the President. Mr. M. M. Ahmed, and the Foreing Secretary, Mr. S. M. Khan.
Senator Church, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the Senate that the Nixon Administration was failing to show the same regard for self-determination in East Bengal that it said it supported for South Vietnam.
“The Administration is so unconcerned about events in Pakistan, as well as voices of outrange of Congress, the Press and among private citizen groups, that the transfer of arms to the transgressors continues on a business as usual basis,” Senator Church said.
Senator Church said neither President Nixon nor the Secretary of State. Mr. Rogers, had said one public word about the tragedy.
“The President has even reportedly sent a very warm, kind personal letter to the leader of the regime that has caused upward of 6,500.000 of its citizens to flee, and brought the possibility of war with India closer and closer”, he declared.
Senator Church, a leading Congressional opponent of American involvement in Vietnam said that if the Administration was really concerned about the principles of self determination in Asia, the U.S. would do all it possibly could to end the “gruesome tragedy in East Pakistan”. “At the very least, our policy would be one of total abstention”.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when it takes action on the US Foreign Aid Bill later this month, will consider amendments’ cosponsored by Senator Church, that would suspend economic as well as military aid to Pakistan until an international relief effort goes into operation and a majority of the Bangladesh refugees in India have been repatriated.
According to reports from Montreal, preparations for the departure of the Pakistani freighter, Padma, from the Port of Montreal were halted for nearly three hours yesterday following a bomb scare on board the ship.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 08.07.1971