Department of State
TELEGRAM
CLASSIFICATION
ACTION: AMEMBASSY
MADRID
USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
AMCONSUL DACCA
STATE
EXDIS
1. Spanish Ambassador Arguelles called on Asst Secy
Sisco Nov. 16 for briefing on PM Gandhi visit and South Asian crisis. Sisco
expressed continuing concern that hostilities could erupt at early date. He
reviewed situation on ground in East Pakistan, role of Indian supported
insurgents, and troop build-up on borders. Sisco stated that strategy of
Indians was to keep constant pressure on Pakistan, while insisting on release
of Mujib and negotiations with him on future of East Pakistan. Sisco said USG had made
intensive preparations for visit of Mrs. Gandhi. Result was we were able to
give Indians a four-part package: (a) dry-up of Pakistan military supply
pipeline, (b) assurance of continued U.S. support for care of refugees,
(c)Yahya's willingness to make unilateral withdrawal to defuse border tention,
and (d) Yahya's willingness to meet with
cleared Awami League rep or BD rep from Calcutta and his willingness to
consider meeting with rep designated by Mujib. Sisco said PM Gandhi neither
accepted nor rejected package but that USG felt Mrs. Gandhi had been given
enough for her to continue to urge restraint, if she so desires. Sisco said
that the Indians appeared interested in the possibility of a meeting between
Yahya and a Mujib designee and that this interest has been conveyed to Yahya
and Pakistan Foreign Secy Sultan Khan.
2. In response to query by Arguelles, Sisco said
that USG has no blueprint for negotiated settlement. USG hopes that political
settlement short of complete independence could prove possible. He said that
this is based on assumption that Mujib still interested in autonomy based on
six points and Mujib's participation in confederal structure
GP-3
ROGERS
Source: The American
Papers – Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh
Documents 1965-1973, University Press Limited, p.713