Conditions On West’s Arms Aid

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29984, 20 November 1962, Page 15

Conditions On West’s Arms Aid

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, November 19.

The Commonwealth Secretary (Mr Sandys) announced tonight that British arms sent to India would be governed by the same conditions as those applying to arms supplied by the United States.

Mr Sandys said in a statement that the Indian and British Governments had agreed the arms should be used solely to meet Chinese aggression and that this may be checked by observers. When the equipment was no longer required for this purpose it would be returned, the statement said.

The United States Government announced yesterday similar terms for its agreement to send military aid to India.

President Ayub Khan will report in private on Pakistan s stand over the ChineseIndian conflict and Western arms aid to India at an emergency session of the National Assembly in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the Foreign Minister (Mr Mohammed Ali) told reporters in Karachi yesterday. The Foreign Minister flew from Rawalpindi for a conference last night with President Ayub and the High Commissioner to India, Mr Agha Hilaly It was understood that matters they discussed included a letter received last week from Mr Nehru and a communication from Mr Macmillan, the British Prime Minister Mr Ali denied that Pakistan had promised India she could safely withdraw her troops from the Pakistan border and Kashmir to concentrate them against China “We have not given any kind of assurance whatsoever to New Delhi. London or Washington,” he said. Mr Ali said there would be further discussions in Rawalpindi before replies were sent to Mr Macmillan and Mr Nehru.

Pakistan is concerned about Western arms being sent to India. Critics of the move, some of whom have called on Pakistan to end its membership of Western military pacts, consider the IndianPakistan balance of power will be destroyed