dated October 2, 1951: Sir C.P. on India and the U.S.

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, who had reached New York en route to San Francisco, met on the 30th September a group of American intellectuals and journalists. Asked what was to be done to improve Indo- American relations, he said the best way was not to talk about it. Silent understanding would be more effective than advertising differences. Contradicting the general impression that there was much anti-American feeling in India, he said the U.S. had to understand India properly. India had just become free and was quite anxious to retain her freedom. A British historian had observed that India was conquered in a spirit of British absent-mindedness. Free India wanted to make sure that there was not going to be such absent-mindedness on anybody' part again. Asked if India would accept Communist doctrine, he replied it could not, because the Indian was a rugged individualist. About birth-control, he said it was prevalent in economically strong advanced countries. Americans wished to restrict the size of their families to maintain their high standard of living. If men of goodwill brought about India's economic improvement and a high standard of living, birth-control would automatically follow. Mr. Aiyar observed that the world had become such that no one country even with paramount strength could afford to stand alone. It had to join either the East or West. India could get help for economic development from America, and so it would be wise for India to be on good terms with the U.S.

Foreign Enclaves in Independent India

Prime Minister Nehru told Parliament on the 1st that continuance of colonial rule in certain pockets of India was an anachronism causing friction. Independent India could not have such islands and footholds of foreign authority adjoining and surrounded by India's sovereign territory. Geographical, historical, cultural, political and economic necessities led to the inescapable conclusion, that such territories become one with India. The Prime Minister added that the Government of India pursued the method of peaceful negotiations and settlement which remained the guiding principle in the conduct of India's foreign relations. No referendum had been held in the French settlements of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, and the situation seemed to have deteriorated after the elections to choose members for the French National Assembly.

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