Delhi, June 25
Mr Swaran Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, hinted today that India might go to war if the crisis in East Pakistan and the refugee problem were not resolved by a satisfactory political solution in the near future.

In what is regarded as his clearest warning so far the Minister told a private meeting of Congress Party MPs: “We may have to take action on our own if a satisfactory political solution to the Bangla Desh crisis is not found soon.”

Mr Swaran Singh sounded his ominous warning soon after Mr Jagjivan Ram, the Minister for Defence, had left Delhi to inspect troops deployed on the borders of East Pakistan.

Indian colleagues informed me today that their relatives and friends in the armed services have received emergency orders to report to operational bases by July 3.

The Foreign Minister’s speech was preceded today by demands from his party colleagues for concrete action. Many members said that the United States was still supplying arms to Pakistan in spite of Indian protests and they warned the Minister against placing too much reliance on international diplomatic efforts.

In reply the Minister said that while India was grateful for the aid for refugees from other countries, the Government would not be “bought over” by aid and promises of aid. “We will continue to fight on all fronts for our objectives.”

Outlining India's concept of a political solution, under which the millions of refugees would return to their homes in “safety”, he said that Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League leader, who is reported to be in prison in West Pakistan, would have to be a party to any plan for transfer of power.

He went on to say that the Government believed that refugees would not return to East Bengal, if President Yahya Khan attempted to install a “Quisling government” of dissident members of the Awami League and other political nonentities.

Significantly, however, Mr Swaran Singh attempted to stave off the demands for immediate action and pointed out that India would lose nothing if she> attempted to persuade the world community to put pressure on Pakistan.

Later, amidst angry scenes in the lower House, the Minister reported on his visit to Germany. Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union.

He said that the leaders of the world powers had come to appreciate India’s view that all military action in East Bengal should cease immediately. However, angry members from all sides of the House shouted the Minister down and demanded a debate on the question of American arms supplies to Pakistan.

After noisy and heated exchanges, the Speaker, Mr G. S. Dhillon, agreed to set aside the whole of Monday for what could amount to a decisive debate on India's future course of action.

Monday could also prove to be a decisive turning point for several other reasons. That is the day when President Yahya Khan is expected to announce his promised political solution — if any political settlement is feasible now. Moreover, I learnt today that the East Bengal Liberation Front is planning to launch an offensive on Monday to coincide with the President’s speech.

The news that Britain has suspended aid to Pakistan has evoked mixed and curious reactions in the Indian press. The normally anti-British National Herald which usually reflects the Government's thinking, published an unprecedented editorial this morning, praising the Conservative Government’s decision.

Under a heading “Britain’s lead", the paper commented: “Britain's decision not to resume aid to Pakistan until there is firm evidence of progress towards a political solution in Bangla Desh is a significant departure from its earlier stand. By this commendable step, Britain has gone up in the estimation of the people of India, and other countries should follow its lead and take suitable measures to make the Yahya Khan Government change its ruthless policies in Bangla Desh. . . . Even an attitude of indifference to the happenings in Bangla Desh is not the correct policy and those countries which consider the developments in Bangla Desh as an internal affair of Pakistan cannot claim that they are following lofty principles.”

But curiously the normally pro-West and anti-Government Indian Express declared that the Foreign Minister’s visit to London was not as successful as it appeared to be nor was Sir Alec Douglas-Home’s statement as helpful as it seemed on first sight.


Calcutta, June 25.— The three-month-old Government of West Bengal, burdened by the influx of East Pakistan refugees and political instability—resigned tonight and opened the way for another spell of rule in the state by the central Government in Delhi.—AP.


Our Geneva Correspondent writes: The United. Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, said today that, although international aid for East Pakistan refugees now totalled about £66m, relief needs are still tremendous “and the disaster signal must remain hoisted”.

About £11m, he said, was in bilateral assistance, of which the Soviet block states had given almost £4.6m mostly in kind.

The latest information from his office in Delhi was that 4,000,000 refugees were in camps and 2,000,000 more outside the camps. Of the former figure, 1,000,000 were lodged in schools and public buildings “which must be vacated immediately”. Therefore, shelter material—150,000 tarpaulins or 450,000 tents, or a combination of both—was needed for some 3,000,000 people.

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Mr Geoffrey. Vieler of the Post Office announced yesterday that nearly 50,000 people had paid £100,000 info the Giro account for the India-Pakistan relief fund.