Telegram
from the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan/1/
Washington, August 14, 1971,
2226Z.
/1/ Source:
National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, POL PAK-US. Secret;
Nodis. Drafted by Quainton
and White (NEA/INC) on August 13; cleared by Sisco,
Van Hollen, Saunders, and NSC staff secretary Jeanne Davis; and approved by Irwin. Repeated to New Delhi,
Dacca, and
London for
Ambassador Farland.
149411.
Following is text of letter, dated August
14, 1971,
from President to President Yahya to be delivered at Farland-Williams Meeting with Yahya./2/ Septel/3/ contains
full guidance on Williams visit and discussions.
/2/ A signed
copy of the letter presented by Williams to Yahya on
August 19 is ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC
Files, Box 759, Presidential
Correspondence File, Pakistan (1971).
/3/
Telegram 149242 to Islamabad,
August 14.
(Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970-73, SOC 10 PAK)
"Dear
Mr. President:
Dr.
Kissinger has reported to me concerning his visit to Islamabad and the productive
talks he had with you and other officials of your Government on the problems
which are now facing South Asia. I greatly appreciate
the candor with which you discussed the serious situation in that part of the
world, particularly the danger of hostilities.
You are
keenly aware that to the dangers which have previously existed must now be
added the possibility of serious food shortages in East Pakistan later this fall. We
have sought to do our part to help alleviate the dangers through our appeals
for restraint and through our full and active support of the humanitarian
relief efforts arranged by the Secretary General of the United Nations. We plan
to make a maximum effort in this regard.
Nonetheless,
the situation remains extremely tense and in order for the dangers to recede it
will be necessary to stabilize conditions in East Pakistan and to see a
significant number of refugees begin to return from India. We would like to be
helpful, and it is for this reason that I have asked Mr. Williams to go to Pakistan. He is a friend of Pakistan, and he fully shares my
views of the situation and of what is required.
Both your
officials and ours recognize that the most immediate priority is to mount a
major effort to avert famine in East Pakistan. This step is
fundamental to progress in re-establishing normal conditions. It will help
those of us who want to help and will reduce the pretext for interference. I am
confident that you also share our judgment that it would also be helpful in
this task for you to continue your efforts to build on the program announced in
your June 28 address/4/ for enlisting the support of the elected
representatives of the East Pakistani people in the urgent work of national
reconciliation.
/4/
See Document 84.
All of these
measures will be important in countering the corrosive threat of insurgency and
restoring peace to your part of the world. They will also hasten the day when
the United States and other countries can
resume, within a revised national development plan, the task of assisting your
country's economic development which has been so tragically complicated and
slowed by recent events.
In addition,
demonstrable progress on the political front will mean that our own counsels of
restraint in New Delhi will have a greater
chance of success.
I have asked Ambassador Farland and Mr. Williams to
share with you some additional thoughts on these subjects, in the same spirit
of friendship which you have so kindly shown for them in the past and which has
also characterized our own discussions. Finally, let me extend my warm regards
and assure you again that I appreciate fully the tremendous tasks that you and
your countrymen face.
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon"
Rogers
Source:
Document 123, volume XI, South Asia crisis 1971, Department
of State.