INDIA’S ROLE IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26812, 18 August 1952, Page 7

INDIA’S ROLE IN PACIFIC

Barring Of China Opposed (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright/ (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 17. India Is opposed to a conference of Pacific Powers which excludes Communist China, said the Indian Ambassador (Mr.B. R. Sen) to-day. He said that while India did not oppose regional co-operation she felt that a conference of Pacific Powers, which excluded China, would eventually develop into another bloc. “This would conflict with India’s policy of non-alignment at present with any group of Powers. “India is therefore unable to extend active support to this idea, and she has ,not shifted from that position.” Mr Sen, who has been named as India’s next Foreign Minister, drew attention- to the definition by India’s Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) of India’s attitude " toward future aggression. India could not be neutral where freedom was transgressed. Mr Sen said India felt she should not enter into any regional alliances, but would rather work for peace through the United Nations.

“Standard of Living” “The basic problem in India, as well as in other Asian countries, is the problem of a standard of living,” he said. “The masses of people have now awakened to their , rights in society. They want certain things. They have a hope of»a better life.

“We naturally and passionately desire peace. If there is war, then our efforts will be completely nullified and we will be set back another two centuries.”

India, he said, has formulated a good neighbour policy and did not at present fear any aggressor. “We feel our neighbours respect our territory and our ideology,” he said. He believed that Asia’s uppermost problem was to raise the living standards of its people. The people of Asia were not so concerned as were the people of the West with problems of international affairs.