233. Editorial Note
President Nixon and Secretary of State Rogers discussed the evolving crisis in South Asia in a telephone conversation on the morning of December 6, 1971. Nixon instructed Rogers to increase the publicity given to the amount of assistance being provided by the United States to the refugees in India. Then the conversation turned to an assessment of the conflict between India and Pakistan. Rogers described the situation in East Pakistan as “pretty bleak” for Pakistan. Nixon agreed but [Page 652] added that Indian forces might face a difficult task if they tried to take West Pakistan. Rogers concurred and said: “I rather hope that the West Paks can do some good up in Kashmir, maybe they can make some offsetting gains up in there.” [text not declassified] (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Recording of conversation between President Nixon and Secretary of State Rogers, December 6, 1971, 9:19–9:24 a.m., White House Telephone, Conversation No. 16–14) A transcript of this conversation is published in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, volume E–7, Documents on South Asia, 1969–1972, Document 161.