International records / Foreign Relations of the United States

220. Minutes of Senior Review Group Meeting

o further actions. Mr. Helms : Let’s say for a moment there is a famine in Bangladesh. If people are fed, there will be less pressure—from Congress, the press, do-gooders and others—put on us to make other decisions. Just remember what happened with Biafra. We have less control over the situation in the long run if we hold back on aid. Dr. Kissinger : That’s a good point. I’m not sure, anyway, that our offer would be a test of the Bangladesh attitude. Why wouldn’t they take 175,000 tons of food grain? Mr. Williams : I think we should wait for the overall assessment need, which will be accompan…