U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 1 April, 1971 at 11 a.m.

Attendees: E Heath; A Douglas-Home; A Barber; Carrington; G Rippon; M Thatcher; Jellicoe; P Thomas; Hailsham; W Whitelaw; K Joseph; R Carr; G Campbell; P Walker; J Prior; J Davies; M Macmillan; F Pym.

Text: The foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said it was clear that the Pakistani Army was now in control of the major urban areas in East Pakistan; and the East Bengal political leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was said to be under arrest. It seemed clear that the Army had acted in a ruthless and punitive fashion; but was likely to be subjected to severe criticism. So far as was known, no British nationals had been injured in the disturbances. It would nevertheless be prudent to reduce the size of the United Kingdom community in East Bengal; and we had secured the agreement of the Pakistani military authorities for this purpose.