Foreign Relations, Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972
Released by the Office of the Historian

 

232926  280001Z  DEC 72  JOHNSON

NEA/PAB:WSBUTCHER:PD
12/27/72 EXT:20466
NEA/PAB:LBLAINGEN

USIA/ISA:JMWOLDMAN {SUBS}

PRIORITY DACCA
ROUTINE         NEW DELHI, ISLAMABAD, CALCUTTA

 

SUBJ: DESTRUCTION OF USIS CENTERS IN BANGLADESH

REF: A. STATE 232100
     B. DACCA 5547

 

1. COUNTRY DIRECTOR LAINGEN CALLED IN BANGLADESH CHARGE MUHITH DECEMBER 27, TO APPRISE LATTER OF ATTACKS ON USIS FACILITIES AND NATURE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS IN DACCA WITH BDG OFFICIALS ON SUBJECT. LAINGEN STRESSED DUAL CONCERNS FOR SAFETY OF PERSONNEL AND BROADER BUT CLOSELY RELATED ISSUE OF STATEMENTS AGAINST U.S. BY PROMINENT BDG AND AWAMI LEAGUE FIGURES AND NECESSITY, AS WE SAW IT, OF PUBLIC INDICATION IN SOME MANNER FROM BDG THAT U.S. AID SUPPORTIVE OF BANGLADESH INTERESTS.

 

2. LAINGEN CITED RECENT ANTI-AMERICAN EPISODES IN BANGLADESH, INCLUDING DEFACING OF USIS DACCA CENTER, ANTI-U.S. STATEMENTS BY FINANCE MINISTER, AND THIS WEEK'S ATTACK AGAINST USIS CENTERS. RE USIS FACILITIES, LAINGEN DESCRIBED IN DETAIL NATURE OF DAMAGE DRAWING ON INITIAL EMBASSY/USIS ASSESSMENTS, AS WELL AS INADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION. STRESSED STRONGLY ADVERSE IMPACT SUCH DEVELOPMENTS HAD ON U.S. PUBLIC AND CONGRESSIONAL OPINION AND USG CAPACITY TO CONTINUE SUPPORT OF BD REHABILITATION EFFORTS. EXPRESSED HOPE THAT REPRESENTATIONS OUR CHARGE IN DACCA WOULD RESULT IN ACTION BY BDG AND IMPROVEMENT IN SECURITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH U.S. MISSION OPERATING.

 

3. MUHITH EXPRESSED REGRET OVER NEWS AND PROMISED TO CONVEY USG CONCERN TO HIS GOVERNMENT. INDICATED HE TOO DISTURBED OVER POSSIBLE IMPACT ON ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH IN ITS RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. YY