Secret telegram
From: Amconsul
Calcutta
To: Secretary State Washington DC
Subject : Meeting with
1. Poloff had third meeting with Qaiyum August 14. Qaiyum again
reaffirmed that he acting under specific instructions of Bangladesh Fonmin and that latter willing accept negotiated settlement
for less than complete independence. He emphasized, however, that neither Fonmin nor any other
2. Qaiyum asserted that majority of
elected Awami League representatives favor political
settlement. He said he was in Agartala this week and
raised subject with 40 MNA's and MPA's,
85 percent of whom he described as "soft liners" on issue. He said
elected reps were "unanimous" in declaring they would approve any
settlement negotiated by Sheikh Mujib. Qaiyum noted, however, that no Awami
Leaguer could publicly appear to be anything but "hard liner." As
example he cited Professor Muzaffar Ahmed, head of
Dacca University Political Science Department ( not to be confused with the
NAP/R leader) who he claimed had meeting with Senator Kennedy in Agartala. Qaiyum characterized
Ahmed as "soft liner," but said he doubted that Ahmed would have
revealed these sentiments to Kennedy. On other hand, Qaiyum
said, Awami Leaguers who talk of independence
realize that independent
3. Qaiyum understands that, although
we are reporting his comments, Poloff is in no sense
"negotiating" with him as Awami League
representative. He hopes that additional contacts will be established and asked
about Fonmin getting
4. As Qaiyum in Agartala
this week, he had not yet heard details of Bangladesh Cabinet discussions with Primin Gandhi and other GOI leaders which, he says, were
held in Delhi August 1-6, and requested meeting next week to which Poloff gave non-committal reply. We believe this
information may be useful, but will await Dept instructions before setting up
next meetings. We recommend this contact, for whatever it worth, not be choked
off.
Gordon
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