WASHINGTON, Dec. 8—The Nixon Administration said today that it regarded the General Assembly vote last night for a cease‐fire and withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani forces as “solid evidence” that the majority of nations supported its policy on ending the Indian-Pakistani conflict.
But faced with the problem of persuading India to comply with the resolution, the White House sought to avoid further worsening of relations, already severely strained by its assertion that India was mainly responsible for the outbreak of fighting.
Ronald L. Ziegler, the White House press secretary, said today, “We don't feel this vote was a condemnation of any country or a condemnation of any people, but was an expression of the point of view that problems like those of South Asia should not be solved by resort to the use of force.”
Blame Laid to Indians
Throughout the United Nations debate, which began in the Security Council Saturday, the United States delegate, George Bush, on orders from President Nixon, had maintained that India was primarily to blame for the fighting.
More than once Mr. Bush referred to India's “massive invasion” of East Pakistan, and in comments to newsmen he talked of “aggression” by India.
Continue reading the main story
That language provoked sharp reaction in New Delhi and, it was said here, a decision by the Administration yesterday to soften public comment. The use of the word “aggression” has been ruled out because it is “emotionally charged,” an official explained, even though the United States continues to blame India for the outbreak.
American diplomats have been instructed to seek India's compliance with the Assembly resolution, and it was to aid that effort that Mr. Ziegler avoided further public condemnation.
Yesterday, stung by criticism that it was unjustly condemning India's actions, the White House detailed its reasons. It said through a key official that the Indians had invaded Pakistan even though they knew that the Pakistanis were on the verge of making important political concessions to the Bengalis of East Pakistan.
The General Assembly vote—104 to 11, with 10 abstentions —heartened American officials because the language of the resolution was similar to that proposed by the United States in the Security Council on Saturday and vetoed by the Soviet Union. There is no veto in the Assembly, but the resolution, lacks any enforcement mechanism.
The Nixon Administration, acknowledging that it lacks much leverage in New Delhi at the moment, is hoping that world opinion, plus India's long-range need of American economic aid, will lead to an early halt in the fighting. The officials said that India would run the risk of endangering future aid if she continued the fighting. A large part of the economic aid and all military aid have already been cut off.
Policy for the Administration is being formed at the White House under Henry A. Kissinger, the President's adviser on national security affairs. State Department officials such as U. Alexis Johnson, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, and Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Sector Near Eastern and South Asian‐Affairs, have been directly involved in a so‐called White House special action group.
A special State Department group, headed by Christopher Van Hollen and Mr. Sisco's deputies, has been drawing together information on the crisis.