TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 244

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CONFIDENTIAL

INDIA

As usual there were many articles on the activities of various extremist splinter groups breaking away from the Indian Communist Party (Marxist/Leninist). In West Bengal adherents of the Naxalbari line were said to have abandoned the West Bengal Communist Party (Marxist/Leninist) and to be active in

fomenting subversion among mine workers.

The Reference News also had several articles on the Nagas, including excerpts from a speech by Mrs. Ghandi calling for sterner measures against them. A meeting of the Naga under- ground at Chednar (?) on 22 May was reported. Speakers were said to have made the point that since India received massive military assistance from abroad, the Nagas should accept aid themselves from any quarter. They should send missions to Burma, Japan, China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

JAPAN

There were few articles of interest on Japan this time. Most of them were about agitation against US bases in Japan and visits by nuclear-powered warships.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Once again, there was not much of interest about South- East Asia. in the period under review. The activities of the Indonesian, Thai and Laotian rebels were reported in the usual routine articles.

PAKISTAN

There were a couple of articles on Pakistan this time. The first one quoted an announcement of the Foreign Minister, Mr. Husain, that the US would no longer be permitted to use the Pershawa base, but Mr. Husain also took the opportunity to express gratitude for US aid in general. The second report quoted a Pakistani Government spokesman, saying that the road from Sinking to Gilgit was not going to harm anyone. The same article noted that the Russians had agreed to construct a steelworks in Pakistan.

AFRICA

There were few reports on Africa this time. One article reported a meeting of East and Central African leaders in Dar-es-Salaam on 13 May which was convened to discuss common problems. Student demonstrations in Dakar were described.

CHINA

The Reference News quoted a report by Bargmann on the Red Flag editorial of 17 May. Bargmann made the point that the editorial suggested that China's Khruschev represented the interests of the KMT and that there was no hope of a compromise between the Maoists and their opponents.

The ignominous exit of the Italian travellers to Canton was reported. The travellers accused the Chinese of brain- washing them and attempting to make them confess that the Pope was a criminal. In the end they signed a statement saying that the visit was non-political and non-religious, so they were deported.

CONFIDENTIAL

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