Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971
Document 67
67. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (
Kissinger
) to
President Nixon
1
Washington
,
June 7, 1971
.
SUBJECT
Relief Assistance for East Pakistan Refugees
You will recall that your recent letter
2
to Mrs.
Gandhi
included informing her that we would be providing an additional $15 million in relief assistance for the almost 4 million East Pakistanis who have so far fled to India. Now the paper work has caught up with this action and you are being asked by Secretary
Rogers
[Tab A]
3
to sign the determination which would complete the legal requirements for transferring $5 million in Foreign Assistance funds to refugee relief so your decision can be implemented. The determination is to the effect that it is “important to the national interest” to use these funds this way. In view of our interest in alleviating the tensions caused by this large refugee problem, this is a reasonable finding. The Office of Management and Budget concurs [Tab A].
4
State has also sent over a suggested White House press release [Tab B]
5
although he does not indicate his thoughts on the desirability of making the announcement here rather than at the State Department. I understand, however, that the Department simply thought you might

prefer to take full credit through a special White House announcement as has been done with other major relief programs. As I see it, from a strictly foreign policy point of view it does not really make much difference but, on balance, I would prefer letting State do it. This will be a complex and difficult program, and I think you should not dramatize White House responsibility for it now.
You may at this point be interested in a balance sheet of the major actions that have been taken so far on the relief and related problems.
In response to the situation
in India:
—Of the initial $2.5 million in relief assistance to the refugees that you authorized, $1.5 million has gone to feeding programs by
U.S.
voluntary agencies and $500,000 has been contributed directly to the
UN
High Commissioner for Refugees (
UNHCR
) to assist in meeting immediate needs for shelter, medical aid and other non-food supplies.
—Of the additional $15 million, $10 million will be devoted to satisfying about half of the estimated food needs for around 2.5 million refugees over the next three months. This will be coordinated through the
UNHCR
but administered through
US
voluntary agencies, international organizations, and Indian relief agencies.
—We have encouraged and supported
U Thant
and the
UNHCR
in internationalizing the refugee relief program.
—Informed the Indians that in response to their request through the
UNHCR
we are willing to provide four C–130s for the airlift of refugees from overcrowded border areas and to deliver relief supplies to the remaining refugees.
—Briefed the Indians on what we are doing to get relief operations started in East Pakistan and to encourage political accommodation.
—Urged the Indians to act with restraint toward Pakistan and have warned them against taking direct action against the source of the refugee problem.
With
Pakistan
we have:
—Encouraged acceptance of
U Thant
ʼs representative as the coordinator of a large program of international relief assistance for the people of East Pakistan.
—Urged President
Yahya
to restore peaceful conditions in East Pakistan, to look into reports of actions against the Hindu minority and to encourage the return of refugees. He has made one statement guaranteeing safety for those non-criminals who return.
—Encouraged
Yahya
to create a political situation that will permit restoration of economic normality.
—Urged that the port and inland distribution facilities be repaired to permit distribution of relief and other commodities to the populace

and to this end have arranged to send a
US
port specialist to East Pakistan to assist.
—Emphasized the need for maintaining restraint toward India.
Recommendation:
6
1.
That you sign the determination [at brown signature tab] to transfer $5 million from Foreign Assistance Funds to use for refugee relief.
7
2.
That you approve announcement by the State Department.
Contents
Preface
Sources
Abbreviations