UNITED NATIONS, N. Y., Oct. 13 — Efforts to get representatives of the United Nations stationed along the tense border between East Pakistan and India remained deadlocked today, despite three months of intensive private negotiations within and outside the world organization.
The gravity of the situation has prompted high officials here to express growing fears that a full‐scale conflict may break out in the subcontinent as East Pakistani refugees pour across the border into India and frontier incidents continue.
In the last three weeks, 47 government leaders, most of them from Western countries, have expressed their concern individually from the rostrum of the General Assembly.
Proposal by Thant
However, a frustrated United Nations official pointed out that no one had moved to place the explosive situation on the agenda of the Assembly or the Security Council. He suggested that apathy or fear of involvement caused many to avoid such action. He added:
“It reminds me of the murder of that woman in Queens years ago [Kitty Genovese in 1964], when neighbors heard screams and didn't call the police, but pulled down. window blinds.”
The proposal to send United Nations personnel into the troubled area came from Secretary General Thant. The exodus of refugees began after the West Pakistani army set out to crush an autonomy movement in East Pakistan last March.
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India's newest estimate is that the East Pakistani refugees who have crossed over the border total 9,339,342, but Pakistan disputes this and puts the figure at 2,002,000. United Nations sources are inclined to believe that the total is at least 6.5 million.
Mr. Thant, treading carefully, did not propose a presence of military men, but rather civilian representatives who would not exceed 100, according to United Nations officials.
President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan of Pakistan initially argued that there was no problem requiring outside help, but then agreed to the Thant proposal—provided India accepted representatives on her soil.
India refused, insisting she has .remained opposed to admitting observers, many here, believe, because military and other help is being given to East Pakistanis now intent on setting up a separate state of Bangla Desh,
Mr. Thant also warned members of the Security Council in August of a potential threat to peace as sabotage and border raids increased, saying that such a conflict could expand easily. This was taken here to mean that India could turn to the Soviet Union for help and Pakistan to Communist China.
However, diplomatic soundings showed that none of the big powers favored a Council meeting and the prevailing sentiment was to try to avoid a confrontation.
Outside Efforts Here Failed
Meanwhile, outside efforts by Iran, Britain and the United States, among others, have also failed to make headway and the general view here is that hopes for a United Nations presence have faded badly and will only be revived if events impel governments to intervene.
Thwarted oil these efforts, the United Nations has concentrated on humanitarian actions and the United States, Britain and other governments also have committed themselves to substantial aid for the refu gees, who are becoming an increasing burden on the Indian economy.
One new initiative is planned by the India consortium set up by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and 13 governments. Under this plan, aid would be channeled to India that would allow New Delhi to delay repayment of loans. These loans, which finance the nation's development program, cost India $400,000,000 in annual payments.
The 13 3nations have scheduled a meeting in Paris on Oct. 26 to discuss this plan. They are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United States and West Germany.
The United Nations’ refugee aid, which began in May, has developed into two separate programs. One is for the refugees in India and the other for East Pakistan's distressed home population. Observers fear that East Pakistan is threatened by famine next spring because the conflict has disrupted crop plantings.
To date, 48 nations and United Nations agencies have given or pledged $114,000,000 in cash or relief supplies to be channeled through the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugess, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. In addition, $90,000,000 has been given directly. President Nixon 10 days ago asked Congress for $250,000,000, of which $150,000,000 would go to refugees and $100,000,000 for the needy in East Pakistan.
The High Commissioner plans a renewed appeal to governments on behalf of the refugees. Indian authorities now say that there must be a considerable upward rise in their estimate that $400,000,000 would cover a six‐month aid program.
The United Nations aid program in East Pakistan is now carried out by a staff of 95 headed by William McCaw, an American, and officials here seem confident that supplies get to the needy and are not diverted.
Some diplomats say, however, that they do not believe these officials or the four members of the High Commission's staff who are on the scene, constitute the kind of stabilizing presence that could have enough impact to encourage a mass return of refugees.
The Pakistan Government says that 200,000 have come back and that their properties have been restored to them and that they are living in security. United Nations officials have interviewed only some of the 40,000 who have returned through the government‐run reception centers and do not claim to be able to speak for others who may slip across the border.
In India, United Nations authorities have even less freedom to go into the camps, according to informed sources here.