U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 4 November, 1971 at 10.30 a.m
Attendees E Heath; R Maudling; A Barber; K Joseph; M Thatcher; Jellicoe; P Thomas; A Douglas-Home; W Whitelaw; R Carr; G Campbell; P Walker; J Prior; J Davies; M Macmillan; F Pym; I Gilmour.

Text: The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said that the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Gandhi, had expressed, during her visit to his country in the previous week, pessimistic and almost fatalistic views about the East Pakistan situation. She had appeared to think that the only chance for progress towards political settlement lay in discussions between the President of Pakistan, President Yahya Khan, and Sheikh Mujib, the East Pakistan leader. Even if such discussions could be arranged, however, the outcome would remain highly doubtful, if only for the reason that Sheikh Mujib no longer commanded the loyalty of the Bangladesh activists in East Pakistan. The Government of India were giving some support to the Bangladesh guerillas, in the belief that, if they failed to do so, the guerillas would be driven increasingly into the hands of the Chinese Government. The refugee situation remained obscure; and no clarification had yet emerged from the approach to the Secretary-General of the United Nations which he had reported at the Cabinet's last discussion of the subject. Mrs. Gandhi. despite her own forebodings and the problems which the refugees created for her, had so far failed to co-operate in proposals that United Nations' aid should be sought in reversing the flow of refugees.

The Prime Minister said that he had gained the same pessimistic impression from his own discussions with Mrs. Gandhi. The internal stresses in India resulting from the presence of some nine million refugees were increasing, especially since the refugees, as a result of receiving relief under United Nations auspices, were in fact enjoying a better living standard than many of the local people and were competing with them in the labour market. Mrs. Gandhi had appeared convinced that these tensions would inevitably grow worse. As regards the wider international scene she had said that the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship was the consequence of India's growing fear of China, which had been sharpened by the news of President Nixon's intended visit to Peking.

The Prime Minister, summing up a brief discussion, said that there were grave dangers in the present situation: forces were operating in both India and Pakistan which could lead to war. It would be helpful if the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary could circulate a memorandum to the Cabinet defining the extent of our interests in the sub-continent and indicating what action might be taken to help to safeguard them.

The Cabinet-
(1) Took note, with approval, of the Prime Minister's summing up of their discussion and invited the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to circulate a memorandum accordingly.