Mrs Gandhi arrives in Britain on a visit today full of troubles. Nine million refugees are an insupportable economic, political and social burden. On the border with East Pakistan the armies of the two countries face each other in an increasing tension. More than six months after the Pakistan army's disastrous intervention there are no signs of a settlement that will bring peace to the anxious people of East Bengal.

As she explained before leaving New Delhi, Mrs Gandhi's purpose in visiting various western countries is to put before them the realities of her situation. She will refute the constantly repeated Pakistani charge that her government’s actions are alone responsible for the continuing tension and hopes to discover that pressure can be brought to bear on Pakistan to give up a fruitless policy. Whatever else she may get from her travels Mrs Gandhi at least deserves a generous response to meet the needs of the refugees.

Quite rightly she sees such aid as only palliative and temporary. What matters is to restore conditions in East Pakistan that will allow and encourage the return of the refugees. This means a political settlement and the consequent withdrawal of the Pakistan army. The latest reports suggest that fears of serious famine in East Pakistan in the coming months may have been exaggerated and this should do something to attract some refugees back to their homes. But for most of them—the four-fifths of them who are Hindus especially—the fear of the Pakistan army's operations is what matters.

Unfortunately, the Pakistan Governments moves to restore civilian rule in East Pakistan fall far short of recognizing the political facts. Most of those given posts in Dacca are likely to be regarded as puppets. And while this immobility lasts India's inescapable association with the guerrillas will seem to give Pakistan ground for accusing India as the root of all the troubles.

Of course it is true that the more active the Bangla Desh guerrillas are the more extended will be the operations against them of the Pakistan army and the more brutal the actions against villages believed to be backing the guerrillas. And from that in turn the flow of refugees may be kept going. By now it is plain that Mrs Gandhi has acted with the utmost restraint, and that her government’s connexion with the guerrillas is precautionary and politically unavoidable rather than in any way provocatory.

Pakistan’s suggestion that the border should be policed by the United Nations is bound to be seen in India as a move to make both sides appear equally at fault. Mrs Gandhi’s case is that India remains the innocent party and Pakistan is guilty, in particular over the refugees. She wants international action that will bring pressure on Pakistan so that political conditions satisfactory to the people of East Pakistan will ensure the speedy return of those evicted by fear. She has a good case.