U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 17 June, 1971 at 12 noon

Attendees: E Heath; R Maudling; Hailsham; W Whitelaw; G Rippon; M Thatcher; Jellicoe; P Thomas; A Douglas-Home; A Barber; K Joseph; R Carr; G Campbell; P Walker; J Prior; J Davies; F Pym.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant, had appealed to us, as to other Governments, for a further financial contribution to the relief of destitution in East Pakistan. Moreover, the Indian Aid Consortium was expected to ask for additional aid, to which it seemed right for us to contribute £5 million, to help the Indian Government to deal with Pakistani refugees who were now on their territory. It would he most desirable to respond to both appeals; and he would be consulting the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Overseas Development about the possibility of finding the money required within the ceiling of the aid programme. If this proved to be not possible. it might be necessary to ask for additional funds to be made available. If we could indicate quickly that we should be prepared to make further substantial contributions to relieve the impact of the disaster on a once and for all basis, the pressure of public opinion would be reduced; and it would therefore be desirable that an appropriate statement should be made in Parliament early in the following week.

Meanwhile, a Motion had been put down and signed by a number of Opposition Members calling for the recognition of " Bangla Desh " as a sovereign State. There could be no question of our taking action of this kind, since none of the attributes of Statehood were evident. Moreover, the Governments of India and the Soviet Union had made it clear that they had no intention of recognising " Bangla Desh ".

The Cabinet—
Took note of the statements by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.