TALKING POINTS SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-460-9-21-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 2, 2010
• Sequence Number: 21
• Content Type: MISC

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Talking Points South Asia
DOS Review
Completed.
]Background
The United States has been keeping the People's Republic of
China informed about its various actions designed to restrain Indian
actions in the. subcontinent.
We ' have told you officially about our strong representations to
New Delhi, the December l and 3 announcements cutting off all arms
shipments to India, approaches to various U. S. allies for political support
or Pakistan.,
~nnY+d tio' of TTN strategy with the Pakistani Govern-
ment, and the shaping of a UN Security Council resolution to promote
Pakistani interests.
Additional Steps
(Most recent note is at Tab J.)
.., In the past few days the United States has taken the following addl
tional steps, many of which are known already to the People's Republic
of China.
Public Line: The White I-louse and the State Department have
issued a series of statements deploring Indian actions and fixing major
responsibility on New Delhi for the present crisis. On December 7 1
gave an extensive background briefing to the press explaining Indian
duplicity (text at Tab K ).
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-- United Nations. In consultation with Pakistan and other interested
countries, we worked for passage of UN Security Council resolutions that
would call for withdrawal of forces in addition to a ceasefire in the
subcontinent which your northern' neighbor vetoed, and for the similar
UN General Assembly resolution which passed overwhelmingly.
Aid Cutoff. We have taken the following steps concerning military
and economic assistance to India:
dly underlined the dangerous implications of the Indian resort
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On December 6, 1971 we suspended "general economic aid"
in the pipeline for India not already committed to supplies and
banks. This totaled some $87. 6 million in non-project loans.
We have revoked all outstanding Indian licenses for the export
of items on the-Munitions Control list and will not issue any
new licenses. An estimated $13. 5 million worth of equipment
and spares was cut off in the pipeline.
We have held up movement on a planned new PL-480 program
valued at $72 million.
We are gutting next year's assistance program and already have
not gone ahead with the first tranche ($100 million) of develop-
ment assistance which had been earlier planned for this fiscal year.
Soviet Union. With respect to the Soviet Union, the United States
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to war and the Soviet responsibility to exercise restraint.
On Sunday, December 5, I called in the Soviet Minister Counsellor
Vorontsov and made strong representations to him. Ambassador
Dobrynin is in Moscow.
On Monday, December 6, President Nixon sent a letter to
Secretary Brezhnev which makes unequivocally clear that India's
aggression, with Soviet support, is unacceptable to the United
States (letter at Tab A). In this letter the President states that
achievement by India of its objectives "would long complicate the
international situation and undermine the confidence" of US-Soviet
relations, having an adverse a whole range of other
affect on
issues." The Pres}dent declared that "the utmost restraint and
the most urgent action to end the conflict and restore territorial
integrity in the subcontinent" was required.
Secretary, Brezhnev has sent a somewhat conciliatory reply
esident in a letter dated December 8, 1971 which
proposes a ceasefire and "immediate resumption of negotiations
between the government of Pakistan and the East Pakistani leaders
concerning a political settlement in East Pakistan. !' The negotia-
tions should "naturally, be started from the stage at which they
inued." The Soviets feel their prof-?,E%l "provides a
way out for all, including Pakistan.'' (Tab B)
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(Presidential message of December 7 at 8:40 p.m. , Tab D).
Yesterday'., December 9, the President warned the Soviets orally
during an appointment which was scheduled with the visiting
Soviet Minister of Agriculture who is an influential figure in the
Soviet Government. He was accompanied by Soviet Minister
Counsellor Vorontsov. During the discussion the President
emphasized that the U. S. has obligations to Pakistan and that if
India were to launch an attack against West Pakistan with Soviet
acquiescence this could not ,but lead to a US-Soviet confrontation.
The President's official reply to the Soviet note of December 8
was delivered this morning (December 10, 1971) to the Soviet
Minister (Tab C.). The Pi e:ident :emphasized the need for an
"immediate ceasefire in the West" as well as the East, and
warned that if this did not take place "we would have to conclude
that there is in progress an act of aggression directed at the
whole of Pakistan, a friendly country toward which we have
obligations. He also emphasized Soviet responsibility by virtue
of its treaty in restraining India.
Pakistan. We have worked closely with the Pakistani Ambassadors
in Washington and New York and have kept President Yahya fully informed
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In a message yesterday (December 9) we told President Yahya
about the Soviet proposal, emphasizing that we were conveying it
a friend who wants to help preserve Pakistan and in no way
should it be construed as pressure.
(Tab E)
his reply (Tab F) President Yahya proposed that (a) India
of military equipment to Pakistan. There are legal problems of transferring
or other international organization provide observers to see that
the ceasefire is effective; (b) that India and Pakistan at any
and Pakistan should agree to an immediate ceasefire with the
separate armed forces 'standing fast'; and that the United Nations
effective level' immediately open negotiations aimed at a settlement
of the war and droop withdrawal; and coincident therewith simul-
taneously enter into negotiations looking towards the political
satisfaction of Bengali aspirations, 1. e. a political settlement.
We have subsequently informed President Yahya, that we have made
a strong de. marche to the Soviets in support of the above provisions
and informed him of the strong warnings we have made to the
Soviets (Tab G).
Military Assistance. We have also told President Yahya that w
exploring with Pakistan's friends the possible ways to facilitate shipment
U.S. equipment from one third country to another. We hale encouraged
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particularly the Jordanians, Iranians, and Saudi Arabians. We have the
following information to date on intentions of these countries and Tury;
The Jordanians have agreed to move to West Pakistan today
four fighter aircraft with Jordanian crews.
The Shah of Iran has agreed to provide ammunition and small
arms.
We have. information that Turkey is considering dispatch. of six
F-,5 fighters which would be manned by Pakistani pilots and
carry Pakistani markings.
U. S. Naval Movements. We have ordered the following ships in the
West Pacific to move toward the Indian Ocean.
An attack aircraft carrier accompanied by four destroyers and
A helicopter carrier and two escort destroyers.
(A chart shov6ing Soviet naval ships in the Indian Ocean is at Tab H.
There are two destroyers, one submarine, a minecraft and a landing ship
as well as other auxiliaries.)
In his Summit meetings with various allies beginning
this weekend with France and Portugal, the President will underline the
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The ships will receive a final go ahead before passing through the
alts where their presence would probably become public
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dangerous implications from India and Soviet actions. He has already
made these points this week with Prime Minister Trudeau and President
Medici of Brazil.
25X1
If the PRC wished we would provide intelligence
information on Soviet troop movements along the PRC border.
and related military activities.
Military Actions. It is of course up to the People's Republic
.of China to decide on its own course of action in this situation.
The United States would understand if the PRC decided that this
situation Posed a threat to its security and accordingly
redeployed its forces within PRC territory. (In this eventuality
the U. S. should oppose attempts by others to intimidate the PRC. )
UN Posture. As you know, the Pakistani Army in the East has
submitted a proposal for an immediate ceasefire, repatriation
with honor of the armed forces to West Pakistan, and other
provisions concerning the safety of persons loy&i to Pakistan.
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It calls upon the elected representatives of East Pakistan
to arrange for the peaceful formation of the government in
Dacca and the immediate withdrawal of Indian forces (Tab I).
In the UN the United States presently intends to move toward
an immediate ceasefire in both East and. West Pakistan. It
would be helpful to know if the PRC is ready to take a position
yet on this issue.
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