CORDIAL TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 7

CORDIAL TALKS

Indian-Pakistani Problems PRIME MINISTERS MEET NZPA—Copyright Rec. 7 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 4. The New Delhi correspondents of The Times and the Daily Telegraph say there are hopes of a peaceful Indian-Pakistani settlement following cordial talks between the respective Prime Ministers, Pandit Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan, yesterday afternoon at Government House. No details are available of what they discussed, but it is believed that they addressed themselves primarily to the minorities problem; that is to say, the problem of how to restore confidence among the Hindus in East Bengal and the Muslims in West Bengal and elsewhere, and how to ensure that relations between the two communities remain healthy in the future. Negotiations at secretariat level are going on at the same time between officials of the External Affairs Ministry and the Cabinet secretariat in both countries.

In spite of recalcitrant elements on both sides —elements which have the backing of orthodox Hinduism and Islam—the great mass of public opinion in India and Pakistan appears to be weary of internecine strife, and would like nothing better than the settlement of all outstanding issues. Many people are still sceptical as to whether a genuine and lasting settlement can be arrived at, but the realisation is growing that it is a case of now or never, and that if the two countries cannot become good neighbours they must inevitably drag each other down to ruin.