Djakarta Reassured

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 11

Djakarta Reassured

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter —Copyright) DJAKARTA, Aug. 5. The Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Kosigyn) has sent a message to President Sukarno saying that the Soviet Union has never wanted negotiations or compromise with the United States on the Vietnam war, the official Antara news agency reported today. Antara said the message was sent through the Indonesian Parliament Speaker, Mr Arudji Kartawinata, who had just returned from Moscow. The message outlined Soviet policy on Vietnam, Antara said. Mr Kosygin told President Sukarno that charges that the Soviet Union wanted to have talks with the United States on the Vietnam war were actually aimed at “undermining the belief of progressive peoples in Asia and Africa in the Soviet Union, and at damaging the bridge of friendship and co-operation between the Soviet Union and the de-

veloping nations,” Antara said. The Soviet leader emphasised in his message that the Soviet Union was not having a passive attitude towards the grave situation in Vietnam and that the Soviet Union was not returning to capitalism and feudalism. Mr Kosygin said that these charges were provocative and “purely a big lie,” Antara said. The Soviet leader wanted Djakarta to know that he had told President Johnson, through the United States roving Ambassador, Mr A. Harriman, that the Soviet Union had no intention to hold negotiations or compro-

raise with the United States on Vietnam. Antara said the message was handed to President Sukarno when the Parliament Speaker reported on his recent tour to the Soviet Union.