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Pakistanis call off the Kennedy mission
Rawalpindi, Aug 10.—Pakistan today cancelled the visit of Senator Edward Kennedy to tour refugee centres in East Pakistan and to meet President Yahya Khan in West Pakistan.

United States Embassy sources said they had learnt of the decision two hours before a public announcement “This was not our initiative nor that of the senator”, an embassy spokesman said.

The Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, which announced cancellation of the visit, said it was feared that public resentment against Mr Kennedy might cause demonstrations.

Pakistan had agreed to the visit in the hope that he would stop expressing one-sided views at least until he had seen both sides of the picture, the agency said. “But partisan statements he made on arrival in India showed how deeply he imbibed Indian propaganda.”

The senator was to have arrived in Dacca on Thursday. AP and Reuter.

[In Calcutta, after spending the day watching boatloads of refugees crossing from East Pakistan to India, Mr Kennedy said of the cancellation: “I regret that such restrictions should be invoked against those who seek to encourage and support humanitarian programmes that can help meet the human needs of a troubled area.”]

Our Calcutta Correspondent writes: Senator Kennedy said on arrival here today that he hoped Russia would not challenge America militarily but would offer “a challenge in the alleviation of the miseries of seven and half million refugees in India”.

Mr Kennedy is on a two-day visit to West Bengal. Replying to questions about the Indo-Soviet treaty, he said: “India has to preserve its national interest, national objective and meet in particular its security requirement.”

The senator who is accompanied by Mr Nevin Scrimshaw, a nutrition expert, and Mr John Lewis, former director of the United States Agency for International Development mission in India, left immediately for a tour of refugee camps near Calcutta and in the border area.

Peter Hazelhurst writes from Delhi: Pakistan’s last hope of mustering Soviet support appeared to fade today when Mr Gromyko, the Soviet Foreign Minister, declared that he had no intention of visiting Pakistan at the conclusion of his four-day visit to India.

Mr Gromyko met Mrs Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, for a second round of talks.

An official said that their views on all issues were identical.

New York— A British contribution of £500,000 for relief work in East Pakistan was handed today to U Thant, the United Nations Secretary-General, by Sir Colin Crowe, the British permanent representative. A further £500,000. to be used to deliver relief supplies, will bring the total British contribution to relief in India and East Pakistan to £9m.
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