BORDER STRIFE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30028, 12 January 1963, Page 13

BORDER STRIFE

Search For Solution

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) NEW DELHI, Jan. 11. Ceylon’s Prime Minister (Mrs Bandaranaike) today met the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) for the second round of talks in her mission to find a solution to the Chinese-Indian border conflict.

Mrs Bandaranaike left Peking earlier this week after similar talks with the Chinese Prime Minister (Chou En-lai). She was chosen for the mission by six non-aligned AfroAsian nations at a meeting in Colombo last month, at which they made proposals for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.

After today’s meeting, Mrs Bandaranaike told questioners: “I have always been hopeful—otherwise I would not have come.” Mr Nehru declined to comment, saying only that it was not good to comment in the middle of talks.

India has told China that "no talks and discussions are possible in circumstances

where India is compelled to accept an arbitrary line . . purely based on the latest Chinese military aggression on India.” The statement was made in a memorandum sent to China on Wednesday and released to the press vesterday.

The memorandum said: “All that inaia asks for is that aggression must be undone before reverting to peaceful talks and discussions for resolving the differences.”

The memorandum gave detailed answers to Chinese assertions about various sectors of the boundary. It repeated the Indian demand that the status quo existing before September 8, 1962, must at least be restored “if India and China are to seek a peaceful settlement of their differences.”