Speech #920159796

But reasons more compelling than international political pragmatism should prompt our Government to reverse its callous policy of support for the repressive Yahya regime and face up to the facts of life in South Asia. Since March 25. our Government has. throug. its policy of silence. countenanced the genocidal attack which the West Pakistani Government launched against the East. Indias vehement protests that this zivil war. which had driven 10 million refugees into the environs of Calcutta. must be ended through international pressure on Yahya Khan fell on deaf ears in the White House and Foggy Botton. The unresponsiveness of our Government and its addiction to coldwar attitudes which required continued support of the Yahya government. served only to heighten tensions In South Asia and drive India to a friendship pact with the Soviet Union. The bankruptcy of our Governments ambivalent policy toward the tragedy of Bangla Desh is no better exemplified than by the administrations allowing arms shipment to continue to Pakistan for 8 months after the outbreak of the civil war.