411. Telegram 1019 From the Consulate General in Dacca to the Department of State1 2
Dacca, March 23, 1972, 0930Z
Subject:
- Attitudes Towards US
- 1.
- Summary: Approach first anniversary independence of Bangladesh (March 26) accompanied by evidence increasing irritation by government, media, and general public with us. Feeling among our contacts, both Bengali and foreign, is that GOBD patience wearing thin and that pressure building up which may soon require some action against US Mission here.
- 2.
- Indications of testier government attitudes apparent in media over past ten days. Joint declaration of PriMin Gandhi and Mujib was, of course, prominently carried, with special attention to portion which warned of unidentified (but implied be us) forces working against peace and stability in the surcontintent. “Morning News” recently featured editorial warning that acceptance of US food aid might dampen the revolutionary fervor of public and hence should be regarded with suspicion. Press on March 18 featured prominent picture of procession of wives of murdered intellectuals carrying [Page 2] Bengali sign calling for end of CPW activities and closure of illegal US Mission.
- 3.
- Awami League labor leader, Abdul Mannan, (recently returned from Moscow), quoted March 21 press as denouncing activities of CIA and Maoist Bangladesh. Mannan also claimed American journalists had informed him that Bangladesh would not last more than three months, which he took to be evidence of US ill intentions.
- 4.
- March 25 has been declared anti-imperialist day by minor left-wing splinter group (Sramik Krishak Samajbadi Dal). Though party itself negligible force, its activities are being given considerable coverage by both Bengali and English press. Imperialists are helpfully identified as USCV, Pakistan, and China. (Because we expect demonstrations on March 25 and March 26 against us, we have taken certain precautionary measures which we consider prudent.)
- 5.
- Another indication is increasing pressure being placed on our senior local employees. They are constantly queried by friends and associates as to why they continue to work for government that holds such ill-will towards their country. Delegation these employees informed us confidentially that they may find it difficult and dangerous to continue working after end of month if pressure continues.
- 6.
- US private cits, some VOLAG reps and US journalists report increasing difficulties in obtaining entry visas or extending stay permits. One US journalist told quite frankly by BD consular official that visas for US cits now required special screening.
- 7.
- Growing preoccupation with conspiracies no doubt accelerated by increasing gov’t frustration in dealing with staggering problems facing country. Soviet encouragement probably also factor. Nevertheless, time here may be running short for us and would not be surprising if government takes some steps in near future to reduce status and functions of this mission.
Carle
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL BANGLADESH–US. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Islamabad and New Delhi. Prime Ministers Gandhi and Mujibur Rahman met in Calcutta February 6–8. On February 8 they issued a joint declaration summarizing the meetings and stressing the solidarity that existed between the two countries. (The text of the declaration was transmitted to the Department on February 9 in telegram 283 from Calcutta; ibid., POL BANGLADESH–INDIA) Gandhi and Mujibur Rahman subsequently met in Dacca March 18–19, where they signed a mutual defense treaty patterned on the Indo-Soviet treaty of August 1971. (Telegram 3714 from New Delhi, March 24; ibid.)↩
- The Consulate General reported on the increasing irritation with the United States exhibited by the Government, the media, and the public in Bangladesh. The Consulate General’s concern was that the Government’s patience was wearing thin and it might take action against the US mission.↩