Written Protest To USA By India
Dangerous Implications Of Arms Supply To ‘Pindi
From Our Special Representative, NEW DELHI, July 12—India has sent a written protest to the USA against the continued supply of arms to Pakistan. Though the Note was given to the American Government on June 27, this fact became known today for the first time.
In diplomatic dealings, written protests have a special significance. Though a common feature of India’s dialogue with China and Pakistan, such Notes have not gone to other countries very often. So far, there is no reply from Washington, although the entire gamut of developments on the arms supply figured in the recent discussions with, Dr. Kissinger, President Nixon’s principal adviser.
The Note, it is learnt, drew the Government’s attention to the near-war situation in the subcontinent, to dangers posed by Pakistan’s action in East Bengal and by the influx of refugees into India. Washington was told of the dangerous implications of the flow of American arms to Pakistan, and of the serious view taken of it by India.
The Indian Note explained that the American action violated past assurances, which, of course, were modified in the wake of disclosures of continued supply.
The information about the written protest was extracted by angry members in the Lok Sabha today, from Mr. Swaran Singh, after the had made a statement on American arms supplies to Pakistan in reply to a call attention motion.
The Minister objected in strong terms to the supply of U.S. arms to Pakistan but turned down suggestions for the recall of the Indian Ambassador in Washington and for non-acceptance of U.S. aid to Bangladesh refugees as a gesture of protest.
He also quote the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi to deny that the U.S. flagships had been carrying Pakistani troops to ports in the eastern wing and, when members questioned the veracity of the denial, pointed out that he had no information to the contrary.
Denying that the Government was trying to hide the contents of the talks recently held between Dr Henry Kissinger and Central leaders. Mr. Swaran Singh said that the U.S. emissary had come on a fact-finding mission. He made it clear that Dr. Kissinger made no assurance either about stopping further U. S. arms aid to Pakistan or about bringing pressure on the Pakistani Government to effect a political settlement in Bangladesh. But an assurance of this kind had been sought at a much higher level and this had not been forthcoming. The House was also told that a suggestion that Dr Kissinger visit the refugees had been declined by him on the plea that he was “very busy.” Mr. Jagannath Rao Joshi (J.S.), who had tabled a calling-attention motion on the subject with four others, said that while what was happening in the USA was being exposed, nothing was known about the Soviet Union’s actions in this respect. He brought the Government’s attention to the propaganda being carried on in the USA resulting in donations being collected for the relief of West Pakistan refugees. Mr. Swaran Singh angrily remarked that while the U.S. Government had refused to stop further arms supplies to Pakistan, the Soviet Union had made it clear that she had made no supplies to Pakistan recently, particularly after March 25. India, he said, had all along known that the U.S. supplies to Pakistan since 1954 could be used only against India and not to contain Communism as had been periodically suggested. Mr. Phoolchand Varma’s (J.S.) suggestion for the recall of the Indian envoy in Washington was termed “drastic”, by the Minister. To the member’s insistence on knowing the exact value of arms supplied by USA to Pakistan. Mr Swaran Singh said that the figure of $35 million appeared to be “nearer the correct figure”. It was not possible to give the exact amount because even U.S. spokesman had been changing figures from time to time. Mr. Vajpayee (J.S.) suggested that the U.S. supplies were meant for use against India, since Pakistan already had enough arms to continue with its repressive policy in Bangladesh. He quote Izvestia’s call for restraint on the part of both India and Pakistan and said that the Soviet Union was trying to put both the countries on par. In his statement, Mr. Swaran Singh assured the members that the Government shared their concern and that the country’s views had been conveyed to the U.S. Government in unequivocal terms. Referring to the figures quoted by Senator Church and the State Government spokesman, he said the amounts did not give a clear indication of the nature and quantum of equipments. He expressed the Government’s opinion that supply of arms to Pakistan by any country amounted to condonation of genocide in Bangladesh. Such supplies at this juncture was tantamount to “an Intervention on the side of the military rulers of West Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh”. Mr. Swaran Singh pointed out that the U.S. Government had been told of the dangerous implications of such a policy on the situation in Bangladesh and “on the peace and stability of the subcontinent and the region as a whole”.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 13.7.1971