US help only under UN supervision
UNITED NATIONS, MAY, 19.-Humanitarian assistance to the people of East Bengal cannot be provided by the United States unless Pakistan agrees to supervision and distribution of such aid by the United Nations and or by private relief agencies, American officials told PTI yesterday privately.
They said while Pakistan’s latest position explained on Monday last by Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed, Senior Economic Advisor to President Yahya Khan was some improvement, It was not sufficient.
They said under American laws and regulations aid provided for such purposes usually by way of grants, had to be distributed or at least supervised by such relief agencies like CARE etectra or by the U.N.
In his original reply to U. N. Secretary General, U. Thant. President Yahya Khan had said aid would have to be administered by Pakistan government agencies.
On Monday evening Mr. Ahmed placed a more “reasonable gloss” over his Government’s stand and said it could be distributed “cooperatively” but declined to spell this out suggesting that it could be worked out in detail in Islamabad or in Dacca by U. N. Officials.
“We have enough manpower (to administer aid and distribute it)” he said.
Speaking in the ECOSOC’s Social Committee, the Pakistani Ambassador to the U. N. Mr. Agha Shahi said yesterday “I am putting it bluntly. No help can be provided to the people of East Pakistan in spite of and without the concurrence of the Government of Pakistan.”
There was some difference yesterday in the U. N. and amongst observers as to the exact meaning of Mr. Ahmed’s remarks on Monday and Mr Shahi’s remarks yesterday.
Some observers thought the Pakistan Government would simply not allow any other agency or an organisation to intervene either to supervise or administer any aid to East Bengal.
If this was the view, the Pakistan Governemnt wanted to use aid to “pacify* East Bengalees and make them accept Islamabad, they believe.
Others, however, thought that pressure within West Pakistan itself-pressure because of the bankrupt domestic economy and the need to revive it through massive foreign aid, including commodity assistance that only the-U.S.A. can provide would “pursuade”. Islamabad to ease on its stand vis-a-vis East Bengal.
Meanwhile, U.S. sources said no decision had been taken by the U. S. Government or the U.S. aid about the return of American experts to East Bengal. While there still remained some experts others were withdrawn after March 25, when fighting broken out.
NUMBER OF REFUGEES
The Pakistan U. N. Mission has denied that about three million refugees have left trouble-ridden East Bengal for India, report DPA, UNI.
Pakistan’s Chief Delegate at the U.N. Mr. Agha Shahi, addressing the World Organisations Economic and Social council yesterday, also rejected “Indian allegations” that the Pakistan Governemnt falled to supply the East Bengals with food. He claimed that in the next few months no food shortage was to be expected in the area.
The grain deficit in the year starting on July 1 would probably reach two million tons. 95 compared to the “normal” deficit of 1.8 million tons. He called upon friendly countries and U.N. Organisations to help this gap, and denied press reports that Pakistan rejected any outside aid.
However, Mr. Agha Shahi said assistance should be given on a humanitarian basis only and with the consent of the Pakistan Government.
Indian Observers commented that if the situation in East Bengal was so good as Pakistan had sought to paint, it would not have asked for assistance from the international community.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 20.5.1971