238. Editorial Note
Department of State Spokesman Charles Bray made the following statement at a press briefing at 3 p.m. on December 6, 1971:
“General economic assistance in the pipeline for India has been suspended to the extent it is not firmly committed to suppliers and banks. General economic assistance, or non-project aid, is provided to support the general economy of an aid recipient and thus support a development effort. In the present circumstances in India this objective cannot be secured. Although the funds now frozen are included in formal agreements signed by India and the United States, we have both an obligation and a unilateral right to stop their use when the development purpose for which they were designed cannot be achieved. The amount affected by this temporary suspension is $87.6 million.” (Quoted in Situation Report #26 prepared by the Department of State India–Pakistan Working Group on December 6 at 3 p.m.; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 642, Country Files, Middle East, India/Pakistan Situation; quoted in part in The New York Times, December 7, 1971, page 1)