India and China may exchange ambassadors
From Four Special Correspondent
New Delhi Oct. 19.-The Prime Minister thinks there is no reason why India and China should not have ambassadors to head their respective missions.
Mrs Gandhi, speaking at a news conference here today, said the change in China’s policies had been very gradual, and had not come in a spurt.
She told a questioner there was no new concentration of Chinese troops along the Sino-Indian border, but that China had troops in Tibet.
The exchange of ambassadors between China and India, if it takes place, will be the first measure to normalise relations between the two countries. Following the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, India withdrew her ambassador from Peking. A reciprocal action by China followed.
It is likely India will name her ambassador once it is know that China will reciprocate the gesture.
The report that China has not mobilised her troops on the SinoIndian border goes to show that China is not exploiting the war-like situation in the Indian subcontinent in favour of Pakistan.
The diplomatic world believes China will not act in favour of Pakistan if there is an Indo-Pak conflict over the Bangladesh affairs.
Answering another question. Mrs. Gandhi said she had not received any reply from Mr. Chou to her communication of July on the Bangladesh developments.
Mrs. Gandhi was asked whether she had discussed China with President Tito.
She replied that she could only say that the views of India and Yuguslavia on China “are broadly similar”.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 20.10.1971