SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 4, 1971
• Content Type: MISC

WASHINGTON SPECIAL ACT10N5 GROUP MEETING
December 4, 1971.
SECRET
Tirne and Place: 11:13 - 11:41 a. m. , White House Situation Room
Subject: South Asia
Participation:
Chairman:
Henxy A. Kissinger
Mr.
Joseph Sis ca
NS C
Mr.
Christopher Van Hallen
Staff : S /Gen. Alexander Haig
.~___.___
Mr.
Bruce Laingen
Col. Richard Kennedy
Mr.
David Schneider
Mr. Haxald Saunders
Mr.
Samuel DePalma
Mr. Saxz7.ue1 Hoski.nson
Defense: Mr. Waxxen Nutter
Mr. Armistead Selden
Mr. James H. Noyes
Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, Jr..
Capt. 'Howard N. Kay
Mr. Richard Helms
Mr. ~ ohn Waller
AID: ~- Dr. John Hannah
Mr. Maurice"`'V~illiams
Mr< Donald Mac~7ona].d
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
It was agreed that:
1) The offic~.al Indian statement an the "no-halds~-barred" offensive and
the cam.paxable Pak statements, should be reflected in our statement
at the UN today;
2) . CTA will prepare by Monday morning,. Decerxzber 6, an hour..by-hOUr
account of events, along with whatever conclusions they can draw;
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
Adm.. Robert Welander
Nirs. reanne W. Davis
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SECRET ^
3) ,The bland letter calling fox the Security Council meeting, proposed
by the Japanese and others, is satisfactory as Lang as the points in our
oriiginal version of the letter are covered izi our announcement of the
n~.eeti.ng call.
4) We should seek to speak first at the SC meeting, after India and
Palo. s tan;
.5) We wi11 introduce our resolution at the time we make our statement,'
without. co-sponsors if necessary.
6) We will go ,along .with general language on political accommodation, but
will not accept specific language concerning Mujib's release.
7) All] will prepare a paper on exactly what we have done in cutting off
economic assistance to India anal what we will say publicly when our
action becomes known; the paper should include the reason why we have
not taken the same action for Pakistan although this wi11 nat be made
public now.
8) Agriculture's desire to ship 50, 000 tons of vegetable oil to Xndia will
be raised with the President;
~~~~~~~~~~*i ~rm:~~ m~mm~r~:xt~C~Y~CxCxC~*i mmn ~~~C~~~~~i ~~~rm~~r~C?F~~i+~~7'F~yF~i~~~r~~ -~i:-`~i~~~Ci ~~ii~it~~i:~:~::
Dr. Kissinger; Dick (Helms), what's going an?
(Mr. Helms briefed from the attached text. )
Mx. Helms: We sent you s; copy of a study yesterday on Moscow and the
Indo..Pakistani Crisis. It's pretty goad and you should take a look at it.
It discusses the switch in the Soviet attitude in some detail. With regard
fo the attacks, Indian aircraft have hit two oil company dumps in Karachi
and they have a nasty fire going which the Paks apparently can't put out.
It will provide a fine tar et for Indian lanes. as Ion as the want. to use it.
We also have a report that Pakista25X1
troops have crossed the border there. As you know, we're getting
dependents out of Lahore via the road to Islamabad.
Dr. Kissin,~er; If the Indians have announced afull-scale invasion, this
will have to be reflected in the statement we're making this afternoon at
the UN.
Mr. Van Hallen; I'll check on it..
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SECRET
Dr. Kissi.ngex: It's not ixi the statement now and it should be.
Mx. Helms: So fax as who started it is cancexned, we're no bettex off than.
we were yesterday. Nor da we have any explanation as to why Pakistan
struck those insignificant aix#'ields.
Dx. Kissinger: (to Helms) Could we have by Monday morning an hour-
by-hour account of who did what when?
Mx. Helms; Suxe. Have you seen our latest paper? That covers most of
it, although it :isn't .listed by hours. Should we convert that into an houxly
chronology?
Dx. Kissingex: It would help---and also what conclusions you can draw.
Mr. DePalma: If you're going to include what India has been saying in our
statement this aftexnoon, Yahya has been saying same thira.gs too---the
"final war" statement, for e~saxnple. Should we include refexences to one
side's statements and not the other.
Dx. Kissinger: I'm under instruction from the Pxesident to tilt our
statements toward Pakistan. Now, either the buxeaucracy will put out
the kind of statements the Pxesident wants ox they will be issued :fxorn the
White House. f
Mr. DePalxna: I'm just asking how you want it handled. We can use only
the Indian statexnent:or both statements,
Dr. Kissizxgex: Is this an official Indian statement?
Mr. Helms: Yes.
Mx. Van Ha11en: Is there an official statement on the Pak side?
Mx. Helms: By Yahya himself.
Dr. Kis sin~ex: Have th+e Indians said they are launching an all-out attack?
Mr. Helms: 'They've said they have launched a "no holds barred" offensive
on East Pakistan.
Dx. Kissinger: Has Yahya .said anything of a compaxable natuxe?
Mr. Helms: He has said his arxxiy would push the, invader back into his
awn terxi.tory and destxay him.
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SECRET
Dr. Kissinger: Is that objectionable? Can the UN object to someone driving
an ene+c~.y back? The Pak Ambassador called me the other day ~o say he
had been told by someone in the State Department to exercise restraint
and .wanted to know how he should do it. I told hi.m to ga back and ask the
per s an who told hirn.
Mx. DePalsxxa: If the statements track that way, bath of them can be
rnentianed in our statement.
Dr, Kissinger: Can someone brief an what happened an the approach
to the UN?
Mr. DePalma: The UK, Belgium, Japan and Italy are all set. Also
probably France. We have had a little problem with the letter calling
far the Security Council meeting, Japan and some of the others have
detected the tilt in our draft anal would prefex an absolutely bland letter.
They have given us a substitute draft. (Handed both drafts to Mr. Kissinger)
Dr. Kissinger: I thought we were going to make an announcement.
Mr. DePalma: We are. We can make the announcement in our own terms.
I~+r. Kissinger: I have no strong views on what the letter should say as
long as we can get our version out through the annaunc~ment. Uur letter
is the same as our press statement. Is that what they object to7
Mr. DePalma: Yes.
Dr, l~issinger: (Reading the text of the propasec3. substitute letter) I don't
care how the request far the-x~leeting is made as long as George Bush
understands what he is to say. Are there any views on this? Daes it make
.,- -ar~y difference?. -
Mr. Helms: I don't think it makes any difference.
Mr. Van Hallen: We do need a letter, though---.it shouldn't just be done
orally.
Dr. Kissinger:. Ga ahead with the bland letter. We ~xri.ll put out our statement.
Incidentally, whoever is backgrounding for the State Department has invoked
the President's wrath. He :referred to UPI-5, saying he would like us to give
the impression of a unified, coordinated govexnment. The President
believes he has been issuing some instructions in this matter, not just being
kept "aPPraised."
What will happen at the UN?
SEA
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SE
Mr. DePalma: We don't know the hour of the meeting yet..-it will.
either be this afternoon or this. evening. The opening statements will
be made by India and Pakistan, and we should try to speak first
immediately after they do. We should make our statement before the
others speak and start to muck it up.
pr. Kissinger: Do we have to take account of what anyone else says?
Mr. DePalma: The impact of our statement would be cleaner if it were
not treated in the press as one of several lines being taken.
Dr. Kissinger: I have no objection to our speaking first after India and
Paka stern.
Mr. DePalma: On the resolution, there is a question as to whether we
can get things.."lined up in tune to introduce it at the time we make our
statement. We think it w~auld be better to have our co...sponsors lined up.
If they begin to quibble with the test, however, we will .have to decide
whether we want to take the time to work out an agreed text,
_Dr. Kissinger: But we have told the Perks we are going to put in this
x e s oluti oil..
Mr. DePalma: lt.'s the one they. expect.
Dr. Kissinger: 'T'hen we have to put it in.
Mr. DePalma: Alone?
Mr. Helms: What's the matter with being for peace?~
Dr. Kissinger; Is our resolution so daring?
Mx. Helms: Why shouldn't we hand the text out to the press before we
make our statement?
Mr. De Palma: We caa't do that if we want co..sponsors.
Dr. Kis singer: lt's a question of whether we want afan-dance ox want
to position ourselves. We want the resolution tabled. We know it won't
coxxie out as it goes in. Having bitched around far the last two weeks,
the only ,thing we want now is to make our position clear. Everyone knows
we will end up with Indian occupation of East Pakistan. It vain be
interesting to see how all those people who were so horrified at what the
Perks were doing in East Pakistan react when the Indians .take over there.
The only thing we want to achieve is to make our position clear. We'want
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
that xesolutian tabled.
Mr. DePalma: A11 right. We wi11 make a minimum effort for co-sponsors.
We will tell them. we will table our resolution at the time we make our
statement. If they want to ca-sponsax, fine. If not, we will table it
and the a~"~ers can come m i.f they like.
Dr. Kissin~ex: They'll play with the language anyway. The possibility
of their accepting it as is is zexa.
Mx. DePalma: They'll quibble with it.
Dr. Kissi,n~er; Their quibbles added together could be significant. If
thexe is virtue in our speaking first, after the Indians and Pakistanis,
there is virtue in positioning ourselves and getting oux resolution in. We
know nothing is going to happen at the UN. Anything will be vetoed.
Mr. Van Hollen; Both the Soviets and Indians .will try to delay,
Mr. Helms: The headlines of the past week all take the line, that the U. S.
is vacillating.-....can't make up its mind about going to the UN. ,
Dr. Kissinger: We will hit hard an cease-fire and withdrawal of farces
before political settlement. I've talked to Secretary Rogers and that is
his view too. I now assume that the resolution will be introduced by us
at the time of Bush's statement. If anyone else wants to join us, fine.
But thex a :will be na hold-up.
Mr. DePalma; Okay.
Dr. Kissin~ex: And we understand that we will not ga along with any
specifics on political accaxfimodation. We wi11 accept general political
settlement language, but not specifically related to Mujib's release. Is
that undexstaad?
" Mr. DePalma; Yes.
Dr. Kissinger: How Long can India delay the pxaceedings?
Mr. DePalma: India wi11 make a long speech. The Soviets will make a long
speech. Whey will ask what the purpose of the exercise is, and take the
position. that a political settlement is the only important thing.
Mr. Van Hollen: They will spin it out as long as possible while they are
moving militarily.
Mr. DePalma: They can do it far three or four days, then something has
to happen.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SECRET ~
..-..
Mr. Helms; Just about long enough to occupy East Pakistan.
Mx. DePalma: We can try to force avote---to force them to veto, if
there is any virtue in that. It should be weighed against the remote
possibility of gettixa.g something useful.
_Dx. Kissinger: It's inconceivable that we will get anything useful out
of this. The Soviets won't tolerate it--the Indians won't have it,
Mr. DePalma: ,One guy or the other wall veto.
Dr. Kissi ex: There will definitely be a Security Council session today?
Mr. DePalma: Yes.
Mr. Helms.: That 11 o'clock meeting this morning just went by the board?
Dx. Kissinger: What was that?
Mr. DePalma: The President of the Council was shally-shallying around
about calling a meeting.
Dr. Kissinger: When are we making our announcement about the xneeting?
Mr. DePalma: I'rn not sure.
Dr. Kissinger: Un the question of econornac assistance, the Presidei+t
wants to go ahead ozx India only. W e can't do anything until Monday
anyway. (to Williams) Will you get over here a paper indicating what we
will say when our action b.ecorrxes public and exactly what we have done.
I will read it to the President so he knows exactly what he's getting into.
'Mr. Williams: Should our statement also cover why we are not taking the
same action for Pakistan?
Dr. Kissinger: No, let's keep that back. We should have a reason, though.
Mr. W i7liams: Agriculture wants us to point out that the price of
vegetable oil in the U. S. is very weak and they want to substitute 50, 000
tons of vegetable oil for part of the 400, 000 tans of wheat remaining to be
delivered from the FY 71 PL-480 agreement.
Dr. Kissinger: I know their problem. Let me raise it with the President.
,I'll get you.an answer by opening of business Monday morning. (to Adm.
Zumwalt) "W'hat's the milit~.ry situation? .How long can the Paks hold out
in East Pakistani?
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3
SEGRET
Adm. Zumwalt: Not Zang. Their logistics will grind to a halt-in
cane or two weeks if they're not overrun sooner. The Indians may occupy
same essential parts but stop short of total occupation anal let the guerrillas
take the parts that the Indians don't want to hold. The Soviets .will
pxobably convert the aid they had proposed for India to permanent use
of the naval base at Visak.
Dx. 'Kissinger: Wel11 meet again Monday morning, unless something
happens. to xequire a meeting sooner. We have the draft reply to Yahya,
but we don't need to do that now.
Mr. Nutter: It goes without saying that anyone relying nn the newspapers
far his information is convinced that this is entirely the fault of the
Pakistanis. They failed to come to same. political accam~modation then
they attacked India.
Dr. Kissinger; It's a well done political campaign. We'11 be paying far
it~~~fax a fang time. You'll look at UPI-5, won't you?
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2011/04/01 : LOC-HAK-310-1-2-3