MR. WILLIAM HAMILTON (West Fife, Lab.), in a question to the Prime Minister about India and Pakistan asked: Is it not time that the Government made an outright and forthright condemnation of the bloody outrages being committed by the Pakistan Army on the east Pakistanis?

MR. Heath.—The Prime Minister of India has given firm assurances, in public and private, that India has no intention of intervening in the situation in east Pakistan. H.M. Government's object is to do everything possible to put an end to strife and try to bring about a political solution. It is to that end we have been working.

MR. STEEL (Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, L.) — Is it not the case that the reports coming out of east Pakistan are so outrageous that some comment is called for from other members of the Commonwealth?

MR. HEATH.—We are all aware of these reports, but as we are endeavouring to put an end to the conflict and bring about a political solution we must be allowed to adopt the means which seem to us best.

MR. SANDYS (Streatham, C.).—While deploring the tragic loss of life in East Pakistan, the Prime Minister will have general support for maintaining the policy adopted by the previous Government in regard to Biafra and in giving no encouragement to rebel forces in any Commonwealth country.

MR. HEATH—We want to see a political solution to an immensely difficult situation. In my messages to the President of Pakistan it has been my purpose to try and achieve this.

MR. HAROLD WILSON.— In relation to Nigeria, while we took the view, supported by the then Opposition, that it was not right for this House to intervene in the internal affairs of Nigeria, at least we used our influence with Nigeria, together with others, to invite observers into the area to provide same guarantee that there was no genocide and no truth in some of the allegations being made internationally about what was going on in the so-called Biafran territory. It was totally successful and the reports showed there was no genocide.

Has Mr. Heath made such a proposal, either separately or with his Commonwealth colleagues, that there should be international observers — one from this country, perhaps, one from Asia, the United Nations and so on—to be able to report to the world outside about conditions in East Pakistan in relation to these grave accusations of the murder of the civilian population?

MR. HEATH.— I would appreciate it if Mr. Wilson would not press me on the details of the exchanges I have had with the President of Pakistan. If I recollect correctly, he was careful in his exchange with the Nigerian Government not to reveal the details of confidential exchange, and was careful in the timing of proposals he made.

MR WILSON.— The House was informed about the proposal for observers after we had made it, and it was accepted. On further proposals, the House was kept fully informed. At the right moment, surely, Mr. Heath will want to give a full account to the House of what he has done.

MR. HEATH.—Yes. At the right moment I am fully prepared to give further information to the House.

The SPEAKER rejected a request quest by MR. SHORE (Stepney, Lab.) that there should be an emergency debate to discuss "the need for a Government initiative to halt the savage repression by the Pakistan Army of the people of East Bengal and the majority party in the recent all-Pakistan elections".