U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 2 September, 1971 at 11:45 a.m
Attendees: E Heath; R Maudling; Hailsham; W Whitelaw; G Rippon; G Campbell; P Thomas; A Douglas-Home; A Barber; K Joseph; M Thatcher; P Walker; J Prior; J Davies; F Pym; Balniel; P Bryan.

Text: The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said that although the Government of Pakistan were ready to accept the proposal that United Nations observers should be stationed on both sides of the border between India and East Pakistan, the Government of India remained wholly opposed to this suggestion. There were not doubt prompted in part by a refusal to be equated with Pakistan; but their attitude probably derived also from the fact that they were determined to conceal their support for the Bangladesh guerillas, who were now thought to be some 20,000 and had achieved a number of damaging incursions in East Pakistan. Meanwhile, however, the flow of refugees into India continued; it was estimated that it has now reached a total of 8 ½ million. The only means of reversing this movement which seemed to offer any prospect of success was to post United Nations observers on both sides of the border; and we must therefor persist in our efforts to persuade the Indian Government to accept them.

As regards to the situation within East Pakistan, President Yahya Khan had just appointed an experienced and capable civilian administrator as Governor of the Wing in succession to the Military Governor.