U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 9 December, 1971 at 10.30 a.m
Attendees: E Heath; R Maudling; W Whitelaw; G Rippon; G Campbell; P Walker; J Prior; A Barber; K Joseph; M Thatcher; Jellicoe; P Thomas; J Davies; J Godber; M Macmillan; F Pym.

Text: The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said that the position of the Pakistani forces in the East Wing appeared to be hopeless and that they might collapse completely within the next day or two. The Pakistani Army had achieved some penetration of Indian territory from West Pakistan; but neither side had made very significant advances on that front. Every effort was now being made to evacuate British subjects who wished to leave Pakistan, particularly those in East Pakistan who were in the greatest danger. Unfortunately, it had not yet proved possible to secure clearances for the aircraft which were standing by for this purpose; and it seemed unlikely that further efforts to be made that day would be successful. The position on the ground was extremely confused; but no opportunity of removing British subjects to places of safety would be lost. The United Nations General Assembly had passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire and for the withdrawal of forces by both sides. The British Delegation had abstained from voting on the grounds that the Resolution was unlikely to have any practical effect and that to become involved in this initiative might have awkward implications for our policies in other parts of the world, e.g. Rhodesia. We were continuing to take soundings at the United Nations about the possibility, which seemed rather remote, of working out a common policy on the supply of arms and military equipment to the belligerents.