U.K. National Archives

Conclusions of a meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, on Thursday, 20 January, 1972 at 11.30 a.m.

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; G Howe.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary reported that a number of friendly Powers, including members of the Old Commonwealth and Western European States, were now nearly ready to recognise Bangladesh. But it was important that formal recognition should not take place until President Bhutto of West Pakistan had been given a chance to come to terms with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. President Bhutto had indicated that he was working seriously to this end; and we should do nothing which would enable him to claim that we had thwarted his efforts to make peace. But it seemed likely that five or six substantial Powers would be ready to join us in recognising Bangladesh in about a week's time; and he hoped that, if we proceeded in that way, the reaction in West Pakistan would not be unduly sharp.