Nehru Tells Eden About Talks In U.S.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 7

Nehru Tells Eden About Talks In U.S.

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, December 24

Sir Anthony Eden and the Prime Minister of India (Mr Nehru) today spent three hours at Chequers discussing international problems, including the aftermath of the AngloFrench armed intervention in EgyptAn authoritative source said afterwards that their discussion was in the nature of a general review, but the Middle East and Hungarian crises were much to the fore in the talks. Mr Nehru arrived in Britain today on his return from Washington for talks with President Eisenhower and a visit to the Canadian Government at Ottawa. His stop in London presented Sir Anthony Eden with a first-hand opportunity of learning of President Eisenhower’s latest thinking on the Middle East crisis and other international questions. Mr Nehru, and his sister, Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit, India’s High Commissioner in London, had lunch with the Prime Minister, and then drove to Romsey, Hampshire, to spend Christmas as guests of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten, First Sea Lord and last Viceroy of India, at his country home, Broadlands. Impact in America

A Reuter correspondent who reported Mr Nehru's tour of North America said today that Mr Nehru could consider his visit to Washington and Ottawa a success, from the public relations point of view at least. The political results of Mr Nehru’s

talks with President Eisenhower, and with Mr Louis St. Laurent, the Canadian Prime Minister, would not be clear for some time, the correspondent said. But the measure of his impact on the man-in-the-street of both North American capitals was apparent, in the opinion of virtually everyone of the scores of correspondents, photographers and protocol officers who had been at his side constantly for the last eight days.

In these unofficial circles, ihere was a general feeling that Mr Nehru had scored a personal triumph through the warmth of his approach and the frankness of his views. It is estimated that in the eight days between his arrival in Washington and his departure from Ottawa he spoke in public on a dozen occasions for a total of more than 13 hours and with one exception without a single written note—pleading his cause and seeking to convince his audiences that military alliances were maintaining a cold war atmosphere which everyone wanted to end.

The correspondent said Mr Nehru was acclaimed by friendly crowds wherever he went, although neither the United States nor the Canadian Governments made any special arrangements to turn his tour into what might have been a political circus. The welcome which greeted him had been warm and substantial.

Although the principals had maintained a tight-lipped silence, Indian, Canadian, and United States officials said they were highlv satisfied with the results of the Washington and Ottawa talks.

In the United State®, Mr

the White House aware that there could be no compromise between the President and himself on issues on which their differences were fundamental and well known, the correspondent said. But he was apparently very well satisfied with the results of the talks and was reported to feel that ths frankness and comprehensiveness of the exchanges were very substantial achievements of his Washington visit.

United States circles are hopeful that the President and Mr Nehru can continue the experiment in “personal diplomacy” which they began lasi week, said the correspondent.

A joint or concerted policy in International affairs is ruled out —the differences over Communist China and other issues are too deep to permit that —but the feeling persists that if the relations established last week can be maintained, the United States views will be given a more sympathetic hearing in the uncommitted Asian countries where Mr Nehru’s voice carries weight. Warm Welcome in Ottawa The correspondent said that in Ottawa, Mr Nehru received an especially warm welcome from Mr St Laurent and the Cabinet. “Canada is playing a leading role in trying to narrow the differences between Britain and India over tha Anelo-French attack on Egypt, which Mr Nehru has described as aggression,” he said. “The Canadian Government

is described as a bridge or link within the Commonwealth, and Mr Nehru has acknowledged the validity of that comparison with his- own attempts to reduce tensions between the West and the Soviet Union and Communist i China.”