PM told of China’s softening attitude
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, Sept. 3.—The Indian Charge d’Affaires in Peking; Mr. Brajesh Mishra, apprised the Prime Minister today China’s global attitude in general and to India in particular.
Mr. Mishra, son of Mr. D. P. Mishra, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and a high-ranking political leader of Mrs. Gandhi’s Party, has been called here for consultations.
As Mrs. Gandhi had to go out for a tour of the flood affected areas of Bihar and West Bengal, and the refugee camps in West Bengal, Mr. Mishra had not an occasion to meet her till today.
The meeting, because of its delicate nature, was confidential.
Presumably, however, Mr. Mishra must have acquainted the Prime Minister with China’s softening attitude towards India, and an overall desire on the part of China to emerge as a world power.
His briefing is not without the perspective provided by the Prime Minister communication to the Chinese Premier, Mr. Chou En-lai, and her proposal to have talks at appropriate levels.
It is likely, Mr. Mishra had suggested proposals follow-up for India, if a detents was intended in her relations with China. Among these proposals, a high pace could have been given to India’s appointment of an Ambassador in Peking, as a gesture to break the ice. It was India who had first withdrawan her Ambassador from Peking after the Sino-Indian conflict of 1962. This gave credibility to the Chinese stand that India must appoint the Ambassador first before expecting China to do so.
At the moment, India and China have Charge d’Affaires heading their respective missions. Meanwhile, the Chinese Charge d’/ Affaires here, Mr. Huang Ming-Ta, has returned to the capital after consultations in Peking. It is not known if he carries a communication from the Chinese Premier to Mrs. Gandhi. Mr. Mishra is also due to return to Peking next week.
Mr. Huang Ming-Ta had been in Peking along with the mission representatives from various Asian countries for a high-level briefing by the authorities on new lines of Chinese foreign policies.
Meanwhile, at a Press Conference here today the Congress (0) leader in the Lok Sabha. Mr. S. N. Mishra, stressed that the Government should consult political parties other than the Congress (R) in regard to the “negotiations currently going on” to normalise relations between India and China.
He emphasised today that the “negotiations” should not imply surrender of our national interests. “In any case, we cannot lower our guards or relax our vigilance in respect of the clash of interests between the two countries or the larger interests of Asia.”
Mr. Mishra said that Government seemed to be taking “active steps” to normalise relations with China. Of late China had shown great interest in establishing lines of communication with as many countries as possible. The much publised detente between China and the USA showed how China was prepared to normalise relations even with its main opponents. It was clear that the climate at present was conducive to establishing lines of communications between India and China.
He said that the Chinese Prime Minister’s remark about the Indian sub-continent and the Indian Ocean had come in the present context, and therefore, had to be considered carefully from the point of view of “the new chapter we want to open.”
Reference: Hindustan Standard 4.9.1971