Timing Significant In Russia’s Offer To India

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30168, 27 June 1963, Page 3

Timing Significant In Russia’s Offer To India

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, June 25. An Indian mission is preparing to go to Moscow to discuss the Russian offer of ground-to-air missiles and other military aid over a wider field, says the “Guardian’s” New Delhi correspondent Russia first made an offer of missiles six months ago and it is interesting that it has

been revived at this time.” The correspondent continues: . “The Russians first inquired about India’s interest on the eve of the arrival in New Delhi of a Common-wealth-United States air aid mission in January. They have returned to the subject now that Indian plans for military aid from toe West are nearing fulfilment. That is not the only interesting part of toe timing. It is not pure coincidence that the Soviet Government should have shown sympathy for India's defence needs just before toe Russian Communist leaders' meeting with their opposite numbers from China

“Nor is it an accident that Moscow should have agreed earlier this month to enter into a more extensive tirade agreement with India and to have promised larger econ-

omic assistonce for India's fourth development plan three years m advance

Simultaoeousiy, hints have also been dropped in Moscow thait if die United Slates is unwilling to set up India's fourth steel plant at Bokaro in West Bengal over which there is at present serious controversy. the Russians would be prepared to step in Two significant conclusions have been drawn from these developments "One is that the Russians are anxious to show that India has friends in Moscow as - ell as in Washington and London. The other is that the Soviet Government is

taking a strong line with China by announcing additional help for India only a few weeks before Sino-Soviet ideological talks in Moscow "Russian sympathy at th 11 stage has been openly welcomed in India. One •! the reasons is China's persistent propaganda in South-east Asia that India has already walked into the Western parlour. Western arms aid has been projected by Peking as India's unannounced entry into the Western military block.”