China To Post Envoys In France And Russia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 13

China To Post Envoys In France And Russia

(N.Z Press Assn.—Copyright) PARIS, July 15. China, in what French officials said yesterday, was an unprecedented gesture of friendship toward a Western Power, has asrreed to send a H<rh-ranking envoy to France.

The officials said Chairman Mao Tse-tung had personally agreed to send the. envoys after an invitation was extended by Andre Bettencourt, a Cabinet minister and confidant of President Georges Pompidou, who is visiting Peking. Some Speculation

There was no indication who the envoy would be or when he would come, but the simple acceptance of the invitation started a flurry of speculation in Paris diplomatic circles today that Peking might be ready to soften its position somewhat on IndoChina and other East-West conflicts. Mr Bettencourt, who arrived in China on July 7 for a two-week stay, has been received with unusual cour-

tesy, the French officials said. Ever since be landed be i has been involved in a flurry i of receptions and festivities, i This indicated, in the French . view, that China was growing ! more receptive to the over- ' tures of the West at a time 1 when it was involved in a i tug of war with the Soviets I for leadership of world com- I munism.

The officials said that Chinese leaders repeatedly stressed to Mr Bettencourt their country’s gratitude for French attempts to win Peking a seat in the United Nations. They interpreted this as an indication that China was again interested .in being admitted to the world body. I The French officials also

said that Mr Bettencourt had planned to talk at length with the Chinese about a possible Indo-China settlement, and the fact that Peking was now ready to send a ranking representative to the city where the peace talks were being held was, tn their view, an indication of Chinese interest in a settlement France recognised China in 1964, and is now anxious to step up its trade with Peking. One official accompanying Mr Bettencourt said that the Chinese were turning to France for closer cooperation in all fields. Moscow Report In Moscow, diplomatic sources said today that China had agreed to send a new Ambassador to Moscow, the “New York Times” news service reported. Soviet and Western sources said that the agreement by the Chinese was part of a reciprocal arrangement between Moscow and Peking under which the two governments would exchange envoys. The two countries have not had ambassadors ip each other’s capital since 1966.