En-lai has also said in an interview to some foreign correspondent that it did not prevent us-that he thought it was not a change in our position.
Question: Should East Pakistan be made an independent and sovereign nation?
Prime Minister: As I said, I think this question should be put to the people of East Bengal.
Question: A follow-up question on the Indian Ocean. Both America and the Soviet Union are sending increasing naval forces into the area. How do you feel about this?
Prime Minister: We can only hope that this will not increase the tensions there........
Question: If a solution cannot be imposed on the people of East Bengal by the big powers, what reason is there to believe that the big powers can impose a Mid-East solution on Egypt and Israel?
Prime Minister: At this moment, I think that the situation in Egypt and Israel and the Middle East is not very hopeful. But we know from experience that sometimes the tightest and most complicated of knots can be cut through. This is the only hope that some way can be found.
Earlier on, there was a question on the Soviet Treaty. Perhaps you know that one of the articles-I think it is Article IV-was especially put in which the Soviet Union has expressed its own application and respect for India’s policy of non-alignment. As regards the question of refugees going back and whether the presence of somebody from the U.N. would help this, perhaps the whole problem would come more alive for you if I give you a comparison. For instance, we had the problem of the Jews in Hitler’s Germany. Suppose you had said. “let us send some observers there”. How would it have helped the situation for the Jews there? Would it have enabled the Jews who were forced to come out because of the discrimination and the killing and the concentration camp-would it have caused the situation for them? It is a very similar situation today in East Bengal.
Question: Knowing East Bengal as you do, would you believe it to have the capability of nationhood, economically primarily, in the event they opted for independence and were granted it?
Prime Minister: This is a question which we had to face when we were fighting for our own independence. We were constantly told that the British would very happily give us independence but India was not ready for it. Until you try and do a thing yourself, nobody knows whether you are ready or not. And I think we have certainly shown-and so have many other countries-that although once free they make mistakes, but they have to make those mistakes and learn through them and stand on their feet.
Question: In keeping with the importance you attach to a candid exchange of views between heads of states, wouldn’t it be a good idea for you to meet with the President of Pakistan?
