U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 10 June, 1971 at 11.30 a.m.

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

The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said that there were some indications that Parliamentary and public opinion doubted whether the subscription of £1 million which the Government had already made to the relief of refugees from East Pakistan was sufficient in view of the gravity of their plight and that it might be necessary for us to supplement this contribution, preferably in the form of a single lump sum. As soon as we knew more clearly the scale of total further aid which was required he would discuss as increase in the British contribution with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.