Baltimore Sun

It well may be, as the United States declares, that the acknowledged presence on two ships at sea of American military equipment for Pakistan involves only certain radio material and spare parts for aircraft engines. it well may be too that the equipment. though loaded after the March 25 ban on arms sales to Pakistan, had been purchased by the Pakistan government before that date. (A State Department spokesman says he has discovered that two licenses were issued after that date, one on March 31 and one on April 6, since "the decision to cut off assistance as Of March 25 was not taken until shortly after April 6, when it was communicated to the munitions control" section of the department.)

It could easily be, further, that as stated in a news release by the American Embassy in New Delhi, the United States had not been aware that the Pakistani ships were loading until the New York Times reported the fact. in other words, a picture of confusion.

It may still serve to bring sharply to mind the increasingly desperate situation that has developed in South Asia since the troops of the government of Pakistan, armed principally by the United States and by China, savagely cracked down on East Bengal on the evening of March 25. it is a situation of a continued suppression of East Pakistan; of an India intolerably burdened with millions of refugees from East Pakistan; of epidemic cholera: of a West Pakistan virtually sealed from outside scrutiny; not to mention an East Pakistan so sealed, but for hints of famine.

It is a situation that cannot be forgotten and will not be ignored.