Sir Frederick blames W. Pak politicians
From Our London Office, Sept. 8.—”If East Bengal is to remain a part of Pakistan, the Bengalis must be given complete powers excluding foreign affairs, defence and currency”.
This is the view of Sir Frederick Bourne, who was British Governor of East Bengal from 1947 to 1950 expressed in a Press interview.
Sir Frederick agreed that West Pakistani politicians were responsible for the present trouble as they refused to negotiate with the East Bengali leaders after the Awami League had won a fair election with an overwhelming majority.
He however, defended his view that the Pakistani Army was justified in it’s action in East Bengal, which he was reported to have told the London. Pakistani Urdu weekly Akhabar-e-Watan (July 28) and as referred to by.
“An Army’s duty in to restore order,” he said. But when Sir Frederick was reminded of the Indians of a Britain Parliamentary delegation that toured. East Bengal recently and reports appearing in the British Press that the Pakistani Army was committing genocide and atrocities sindel trouble began there in March, he said, “I ran’t criticises the reports of people who have been there and seen thinga for themselves. My view is that of a distant observer. I’ve not been there myself for a long time.”
On the role of an army reastoring order. Sir Frederick said. “They must use only the minimum force necessary and not commit brutalitlea. They must exercise power with out most restraint.”
Both The Times diarist and Akhabar-e-Watan had quoted him as saying that at the time of independence in 1947 Muslims in the area were very happy to be free of the economic bondage of the Hindus who continued to control walks of economic life. I could never imagine that, East Pakistani Muslims would ever want the return of Hindu economic domination.’
But here is what the former British Governor of East Bengal (now called Bangladesh) explained: “The Muslims in East Bengal were not happy because they were free of the Hindu economic domination, they were happy just as anybody else on the sub-continent where there was a general rejoicing on attaining independence. The Hindus were in a runority but they were quite acceptable to the Muslims. In the first two years (of his tenure as Governor of East Bengal) I found no signs of friction at all. By the third year, thought there was some trouble.”
Sir Frederick added: “East Bengal’s is an unnatural altution-a part of the country thousands of miles apart. I don’t think it could remain so forever.” About Bangladesh he said: “Bangladesh, if it becomes a separate State cannot survive for long. In time it is bound to become a part of India. The Bengalis, Hindus and Muslims—will be happy together in end.”
But there is no movement either in Bangladesh or in West Bengal for any kind of union. On the contrary, both Indian (including West Bengal) and Bangladesh leaders have realised that they should be friendly neighboms—just like. North American and Canadians sharing, a common frontier.
A spokesman of the recently opened Bangladesh Mission in London said. “Bangladesh is not only politically vieble but also economically. Since 1947 Bangladesh’s own economy has jargely suported the whole of East and West Pakistan. There could be no doubt about her economic viability,
Akhbar-e-Watan had also quoted him as saying that it was the result of the feelings of evengs of Indian Hindus that through their agents they tried shamefully though funsuccassfully for the xseparation of East Pakistan. When Sir Federick’s attention was ==to this quotation he denied it most emphatical. “That’s just nonsense,” he said. “How could I, living in Europe and not visiting the place for a long time, say such a thing? It’s quite impossible.” I never said anything of the sort. That may be the Pakistani view not mine.”
He thinks a political solution is still feasible provided “statement of both sides sit together and negotiate. And this is posialbia only the Bangali’s are assured of extensiva powers excluding foreign affairs defence and currency. But if they now demand complete freedom and sepatation from West Pakistan only the West Pakistan themselves are to==.
Sir Frederick Bourn who celebrated his eight birthday in August, we === and Oxford. he === the Territorial Army == India during the First == at the end of which == to Egland to comptere and pass his ICS
Examination. In his long caree in India heginning in 1920. Sir Frederick held different positions including that of Secretary to the Punjab Government and Acting Governor of Central Provinces and Borar. In 1947 he became Governor of East Bengal. Three years later in 1950 he returned to England. He now lives with his wife at his quiet home in ===.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 09.09.1971