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1552583
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May 17, 1973 - Nixon, Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqi (Bangladesh)
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1552583
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document
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May 17, 1973 - Nixon, Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqi (Bangladesh)
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Nixon Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Bangladesh
Pakistan
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1973-05-17
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1973
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1973-05-17
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5
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1973
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Nixon
Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqi, Bangaledesh
Major General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Thursday, May 17, 1973
11:45 a.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
Siddiqi: May I present this letter, Mr. President.
The President: I will get your pictures to you right away.
With your massive problems we want to help as much as we can. The
problem is not only there but in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, to bring
an era of peace for our children. Tell the Prime Minister we will cooper- -
ate to work for peace.
Siddiqi: You are aware of our problems. The United States has done so
much. We have done what we could. We want to extend the hand of friend-
ship to all countries, even to Pakistan. We have offered to exchange all
the Pakistani prisoners we have, in exchange for all the Bengalis, except
for the 195. Bhutto has shown concern over the Biharis and even the 195.
NSC MEMO, 11/24/99, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES stateleview 3/8/04
We think that is a small number. This is not vindictiveness -- it will be
an open trial, with defense counsel, and very humanitarian.
NARA, DATE 3/31/04
The return of the Biharis will not change the social problem because we
will take back an equal number. There is no problem of assimilation.
It is unfortunate Bhutto holds the Bengalis hostage. He has threatened to
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
try the senior ones.
This doesn't help get us together. Ours is not a political move, but we
seek peace in all sincerity.
CLASSIFIED BY Brent Scowcroft
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
FOAD
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 (b) (1, 3)
BY.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
GERALD
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
2
I want to thank you for your message to Congress on the recognition of
Bangladesh. We believe it should be settled this way: You take your people,
we take ours.
The President: We want good relations with all the countries in the area.
This is a delicate thing when we intervene, but you should talk with our
experts. Joe Sisco should talk with you.
Siddiqi: We would appreciate your help.
The President: I don't mind if it will help, but only if it will.
Siddiqi: It is very difficult for our Prime Minister not to try some because
of popular passions in a democracy.
The President: I am glad to have heard your side. We want to see the
conflict settled. The three great states should live in peace.
Siddigi: We are a small country.
The President: But you have lots of people.
Siddiqi: We want a small army.
I want to thank you for the material assistance you have given us for our
development.
The President: We want to do what we can. Please give my greetings to
the Prime Minister.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
Siddigi /anut. ali 17 may [1973]
2
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/96, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state Review 3/8/04
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