Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971
Document 156
156. Telegram From
the Mission to the United Nation
s to
the Department of State
1
New York
,
October 2, 1971, 1422Z
.
Secto
02/3063. Subject: Discussion Between Secretary and
FonMin
Swaran Singh
(India)—Bangla Desh—
GOP
Negotiations.
1.
Summary: During conversation between Secretary and Indian
FonMin
Swaran Singh
, Assistant Secretary
Sisco
reviewed recent discussion with Ambassador
Jha
in which he urged India to use influence with Bangla Desh reps to start dialogue with
GOP
.
2
Swaran Singh
replied that
GOI
does not have influence with Bangla Desh which has independent source of finance and is critical of
GOI
for its failure to recognize Bangla Desh. Said this did not mean India did not want dialogue.
2.
Secretary urged
GOI
initiate dialogue without insisting upon
Mujib
ʼs participation to see what could be accomplished.
Swaran Singh
replied that
US
has contacts with Bangla Desh people. It has greater influence, it should try bring about dialogue. Secretary concluded
US
would do what it could with
GOP
to get talks with Bangla Desh reps started. Said we hoped India could help. End summary.
3.
During course of bilateral between Secretary and Indian
FonMin
Swaran Singh
October 1, Assistant Secretary
Sisco
reviewed his recent discussion with Ambassador
Jha
in regard to dialogue between Bangla Desh reps and
GOP
. Taking off from
Swaran Singh
ʼs emphasis on need for political settlement,
3
Sisco
emphasized importance of getting dialogue started and urged Indians not to insist that
Mujib
be participant. Said in view Indian concern over trend toward extremism

among guerrillas was it not in Indiaʼs interest to influence Bangla Desh reps below level
Mujib
to start talking. Asked isnʼt this development which would serve interests India, Pakistan, and
US
?
4.
Swaran Singh
replied
GOI
did not have sufficient influence with Bangla Desh. Bangla Desh has independent finances brought out of East Pakistan and collected abroad. Furthermore, it is displeased over Indiaʼs failure to recognize Bangla Desh. Also Bangla Desh reps would suspect
GOI
of trying to divide them if Indians suggested leaving aside upper layer of leaders and starting dialogue. It was not that
GOI
opposed dialogue, but
Mujib
was important to it.
5.
Secretary said dialogue below
Mujib
would not mean he had been abandoned. Discussion should be started to see what could be accomplished.
Swaran Singh
replied that
US
has contacts with Bangla Desh. It could try to start talks since it had greater influence. Secretary repeated that India had greater leverage.
6.
Indian Perm. Rep. Sen restated
US
suggestion saying we proposed lower echelon discussions between Bangla Desh and
GOP
.
Sisco
replied there no lack of senior Bangla Desh people, including “foreign minister”. He was not proposing discussions between lower echelon people on either side. Said he did not accept
FonMin
ʼs view that
GOI
lacked influence with
BD
.
Sisco
replied to doubts expressed by Sen regarding
GOP
willingness to talk and said we have not found any reluctance to open dialogue on part of
GOP
. Secretary concluded this part of conversation saying we would do what we could with
GOP
to get talks started with Bangla Desh. He hoped India would help.
Rogers
Contents
Preface
Sources
Abbreviations