Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, Volume XI,
Released by the Office of the Historian
Telegram
From the Embassy in
/1/
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SOC 10 PAK. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to USUN,
7164. Subj: Conversation With Pres. Yahya
Khan: Food Situation
1. I
met with Pres. Yahya Kahn in President's office in
2. I
emphasized our serious concerns about possibility of famine developing in East
Pakistan./2/ I pointed out that if famine conditions developed, people will
sustain further widespread suffering, GOP will be faced with additional major
public relations problem, and substantial new exodus of refugees may occur. I
informed President of USAID estimates of rice production and food gap and
stated that unless heroic efforts made, famine conditions are likely to
prevail. I emphasized that efforts to date have been less than adequate. The
GOP has been reluctant to admit possibility of famine and consequently problems
of food and transport have not been dealt with sufficient urgency. I pointed
out that it was essential that GOP face up to the very real possibility of a
major food crisis and begin developing, on a top priority basis, contingency
plans for dealing with such a crisis.
/2/ On
July 23 the Consulate General in
3. I
noted that the results of the efforts to improve food transportation have been
very disappointing, pointing out that during June shipments were less than half
of the amounts which could reasonably be expected. I told the President that we
hoped that grain shipments up country would be at least 100,000 tons in July
and 125,000 in August.
4. I
advised the President of the actions we were taking to permit shipment of
100,000 tons of wheat, and emphasized that it was the responsibility of the GOP
to insure that these shipments are received, unloaded and distributed
expeditiously.
5. I
also pointed out that efforts must be made to increase purchasing power in
6. In
conclusion I referred to our misgivings about the present relief coordinator,
Mr. H.R. Malik, and suggested that he be replaced
with a more dynamic officer.
7. Yahya said that he had carefully studied the Ryan report/3/
which I had heretofore given to him, and from it and his own government's
sources of information he was considerably concerned by the problem presented
by the food situation. He said that as a result of my suggestion to him that a
"food czar" should be appointed, a suggestion reflected in the Ryan
report, he had as of yesterday appointed the former head of the Chittagong Port Authority, retired Commodore Bajwa, as his personal representative with superior power
to act in alleviation of the problem. He further said that as a result of his
concern for
/3/
The Ryan report was a survey of the
8.
Another subject that was discussed during this conversation will be reported by
septel./4/
/4/ During the same conversation, Farland
urged Yahya to replace General Tikka
Khan, the Governor of East Pakistan, with a civilian governor, preferably a
Bengali. Yahya replied that it would be difficult to
appoint a civilian governor in East Pakistan and not in West Pakistan, where
Bhutto was "standing in the wings" urging a transfer of power. Yahya said that he had just appointed Dr. A.M. Malik as his Special Assistant for Displaced Persons and
Relief and Rehabilitation Operations in
Farland