Bangladesh should have self-Government : Percy
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, Aug. 28.–Senator Charles Perey of the Republican Party of the USA called for the selfdetermination of the people of Bangladesh. “The will of the electorate must be carried out,” he said.
The Senator said here today that he would prefer a total suspension of economic assistance and military hardware sales to Pakistan by the USA.
Mr. Perey, who had extensively visited refugee camps in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura came back here after a tour of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal today.
He told a Press conference at the US Embassy that a “dangerous and volatile situation” had risen in Indo-Pak sub-Continent which might threaten the world peace. He would like the presence of the United Nations in East Bengal so that it could help create conditions for the safe return of Bangladesh refugees.
Senator Perey paying a private visit here with his family, is due to go to Dacca tomorrow and Karachi afterwards.
He said that, what he had seen in India, had convinced him of the tremendous economic pressure on India because of Bangladesh refugees. He praised the attitude of restraint demonstrated by the Government of India despite the “Indian hawks asking a war with Pakistan.”
He was all for a “political solution” on Bangladesh problem and thought that, if men of goodwill could put their heads together, solution, other than that of a war, could be found.
Questioned by newsmen, including the Delhi-based AP correspondent, Mr. Perey hastily withdrew his remarks that India had been getting much more from the USA than Pakistan.
Mr. Percy had stated that while India had received economic assistance worth a billion dollars Pakistan had received only $ 3.6 mullion by way of sales of military spares.
Indian and American correspondents then pointed out it was unfair to compare assistance to India given in the last 20 years with military spare sales to Pakistan in the last four months.
Mr. Percy today had interviews with the Prime Minister, and the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Swaran Singh.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 29.08.1971