Department of State

 

TELEGRAM

CONFIDENTIAL 454

 

ISLAMA 11856 010234 Z

90

ACTION SS-25

INFO OCT-01 /026 W

………..084149

P 301325 Z NOV 71

FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD

TO SECSTATE WADHDC PRIORITY 1772

CONFIDENTIAL ISLAMABAD 11856

EXDIS

FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY SISCO FROM AMBASSADOR

SUBJ : POSSIBLE BHUTTO VISIT TO US

REF   : STATE 215008

 

1. 1 believe your basic analysis is correct, i.e., there are no real reasons to discourage Bhutto's plans for visit, and there may possibly be something to gain in terms of role Bhutto might come to play in evolving Pak political scene. As you know, the latest reports revolve around Bhutto acting as number two in possible new government, with his party holding key portfolios, including Foreign Affairs and Defense (Karachi 2279). In rapidly shifting scene nothing of course is certain, but prospects for Bhutto exercising significant power in near future must at this juncture be considered quite promising.

 

2. Main problem is that Bhutto wants to see President Nixon. As you will recall, when I asked whom he would like to see if he visited the US, he replied qte only President Nixon unqte (Islamabad 10988).

 

3. 1 believe best way to handle this problem is for me frankly to advise Bhutto that present schedule and plans for President Nixon would rule out any meeting with the President. I would refer to recent White House announcements disclosing heavy schedule of meeting with allied leaders, culminating in trip to Peking Feb. 21. At same time, I would assure Bhutto that every effort would be made for him to meet with Secretary and/or Under Secretary. If Bhutto still interested in visit to Washington, despite impossibility of meeting with President, I could then undertake to convey to Washington specific date of Bhutto's intended visit. In doing so, I could call to his attention my understanding that Secretary will be absent Dec. 8 and 9 (NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels).

 

4. I recommend that I be authorized to advise Bhutto along the lines in the preceding paragraph.

GP-3 FARLAND

 

 

Source:  The American Papers – Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973, University Press Limited, p.734