Washington Star/Evening Star

NEW DELHI.-Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the prime minister, told a meeting recently that America follows Britain when formulating policy on India, Pakistan and other countries in the region. She was answering a question why the United States was not openly siding with India on the question of East Bengal.

More or less, that is the quintessence of Indian opinion. There is a feeling here that despite the liberal traditions of America, Britain has been able to influence it in adopting an "anti-people" policy to preserve the status quo.

It is conceded that U.S. public and press are sympathetic to India's insistence that no refugee from East Bengal can go back unless there is an acceptable government in that part of Pakistan. But it also is alleged that the State Department and the Pentagon, particularly the latter, are unwilling to put enough pressure on Pakistan to alienate it or drive it completely to the Chinese side. And here, as far as India is concerned, is the land of London.

Both the government and the people of India are happy that the visit of Indian Foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh to Washington has brought about some change in the U.S. thinking in the sense that the government realizes that President Yahya Khan of Pakistan will have to make major political concessions to create a climate for the return of the refugees.

But the reluctance of the United States to openly condemn Pakistan or to pressure it is deplored. Yet a segment of opinion in the Indian government and among the people believes that had it not been for behind-the- scenes activity by Britain, the United States would have come out on India's side in a more positive way.

U.S. assistance in the wake of cholera in the refugee camps has been appreciated, and the visit of Frank Kellogg, special assistant to the Secretary of State for refugees and migration affairs has been welcomed.

But the reluctance of the United States most countries in the world, has been tardy in its reactions.

And where Indian opinion feels most sensitive is that the United States has not as vehemently condemned the barbarities of the Pakistan army in East Bengal, particularly on the Hindus, as might have been expected. "America has rightly felt angry over the My Lai incident; but it is surprising how scores of incidents like My Lai in East Bengal have gone almost unnoticed In the United States," says a top official of the Indian External Affairs Ministry.

However, the real disappointment of the Indian people is not so much from America as from the Arab countries which New Delhi has been supporting all along. Their complete silence over the happenings in East Bengal has come under adverse notice both by the public and the press.

And some quarters are demanding a reassessment of the policy which, according to them has been tantamount to having no contact with Israel lest the Arab countries should feel offended. Indian officials say the fact of Pakistan being a Moslem country has weighed with the Arab countries more than the brutality and the influx of six million refugees into India.