International Herald Tribune

London, Sep. 21 (AP) -Diplomatic sources of two countries reported tonight that President Mohammad Yahya Khan of Pakistan may be ready to authorise negotiation with imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for settlement of terms . in the East Bengal crisis.

The Pakistan High Commission in London could not be reached for comment on the report which, if confirmed, would represent a retreat by the Pakistani President.

As the informants portrayed the situation, General Yahya would insist as a precondition that any arrangements giving the East Bengalis the autonomy they have claimed would have to be within the framework of a united state of Pakistan. Secession or even self-determination would, in other words, be excluded.

Sheikh Mujibur is in a West Pakistan jail being tried in secret on charges that have yet to be publicly defined. He is leader of the now-banned Awami League, which won 167 of East Pakistan’s 169 National Assembly seats in last December’s national election.

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General Yahya branded the Sheikh a traitor to Pakistan and, therefore, according to the informants, would not personally involve himself in any negotiations with his captive.

Instead, the sources said, the President, under pressure of several friendly countries, is pondering the establishment of a civil government that would be charged with negotiating.

In the view of most London authorities, the starting point of any negotiation would have to be Islamabad’s acceptance of the principle of maximum autonomy for East Bengal.

Sheikh Mujibur is thought to be about the only leader in Pakistan with enough credibility and authority to be able to sell the idea of a settlement and reconciliation to the embittered East Bengalis.

The bitterness of the East Bengalis stem from the campaign of suppression and punishment that independent authorities have said followed in the wake of the Awami League’s electoral successes.

That campaign, carried out by West Pakistani troops, have taken an immeasurable toll of East Bengali lives and has sent millions of refugees streaming into India.