From Paul Martin
Dacca, March 11

Hopes that President Yahya Khan's imminent visit here will result in a peaceful solution of the Pakistan crisis have been raised by indications that both sides in the -dispute are beginning to take a more conciliatory stand.

The meeting between the President and Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistan leader, which is expected to take place during the visit, is regarded here as an event which will have a decisive effect on the crisis.

Furthermore, the visit has been preceded by an offer by Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the West Pakistan leader, to meet the Shaikh.

In a cable to Shaikh Mujibur today, Mr. Bhutto expressed his distress over the recent events in Pakistan and called for all efforts to be made to keep the country united.

Although the proposed visit by President Yahya, which is expected to take place during the next few days, has been greeted coolly by Shaikh Mujibur and his Awami League followers, it is clear that it is being looked upon as a serious attempt to settle the dispute which has threatened to divide Pakistan

There are reports that the Shaikh telephoned President Yahya yesterday in an effort to prepare the ground for the meeting.

One of the many problems to be solved is where the President and the Shaikh will meet. Another is that the talks must produce a face-saving formula for both the head of state and the Prime Minister-elect. who is under pressure from his followers to steer East Bengal along the road to complete independence.

The Shaikh is being pressed to take his demands a step further than the original six-point election programme under which autonomy would be granted to East Pakistan.

With the reins of civil administration in his hands and his power to paralyse the country in defiance of the central Government clearly demonstrated by recent events, the Shaikh now finds himself in an unenviable position.
On the one hand, he has proved himself to be the undisputed leader of East Pakistan. On the other, he is finding it increasingly difficult to restrain the political pressures which are arising within his movement.

The increasing economic problems which his retaliatory measures have created on the home front will do nothing to relieve the pressure from the extreme left which exerts a powerful influence on him.

The Shaikh. told me in an interview that his goal was "emancipation" for East Bengal. He avoided the term "independence" which has now become the rallying call throughout the eastern province.

Indeed, the riots and demonstrations of the past 10 days have served to create an atmosphere of euphoria that may prove difficult to disperse.

The severe administrative measures introduced by Shaikh Mujibur are beginning to have a serious effect on the economy of East Pakistan and unless they are eased soon whole areas of the nation's economic life will come to a complete standstill. Banks may have to close because of the low ceiling imposed on withdrawals and the blocking of monetary transactions between the East and West wings of Pakistan.

The military authorities have denied allegations by Shaikh Mujibur that troop reinforcements have been rushed into East Pakistan to prepare for a new clamp down by the Army.