Washington is following a dangerously short‐sighted policy in continuing to insist that the Pakistani military government's slaughter of democratically elected leaders and repression of the majority of its population in East Pakistan is strictly “an internal matter.” Although the army appears to have the Bengali uprising under control for the moment, the bloodbath in “Bangla Desh” has immediate and long‐run implications that the world community cannot afford to ignore.

The immediate international concern must be for the human suffering in East Pakistan. The ruthless slaughter of resisters and innocent civilians, especially members of potential leadership groups, appears to be continuing. Moreover, the disruption of economic and social life caused by the fighting is bound to create widespread hardship over a prolonged period. There is ample evidence to justify a strong plea by the world community for an immediate end to the bloodshed and for the admission of international relief agencies into East Pakistan.

The Pakistani Government itself has made this conflict an international issue by attempting to place the blame for Bengali resistance on neighboring India. If deep rooted—and now profoundly aggravated—Bengali grievances are allowed to fester, mounting tensions between India and Pakistan could explode into a war that might quickly involve one or more of the major powers. The United Nations Security Council and its member states have not only, the right but the responsibility to do all that is in their power to try to forestall such a development.

A particularly heavy burden of responsibility falls on the United States Government since Washington's arms provide the principal muscle of West Pakistan's military power and American economic aid will become increasingly crucial for the Pakistani Government's survival. Washington has the leverage to support democratic and peaceful development in Pakistan. Continued blind backing for the military regime in Islamabad can only lead to disaster for this country's substantial interests on the Indian subcontinent.