Khrushchev's downfall is a useful reminder of how far away we still are from Lenin's road which in his time was followed without errors."
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A SHIFT IN MOSCOW'S POLICY TOWARD INDIA?
A shift in Moscow's policy in relation to India was intimated November 15-16 during a "conference for peace and international cooperation" held at the Sapru House in New Delhi, In a closed-door discussion on the India-China dispute, the Soviet delegation, headed by Academician Zhukov, gave many indications of reluctance to say anything critical about China although it went along with other delegations in criticizing the Chinese nuclear test, according to the Calcutta Statesman of November 18,
The discussion ‘took place in a commission charged with drafting a statement on "relaxation of international tension and peaceful coexistence of different social systems ,'
The Indian delegation, headed by Dewan Chaman tal, took it for granted that the Russian delegation would support the proposal | that China should accept the Colombo proposals as a basis for talks to settle the Sino-Indian dispute. The assumption was made on thebasis of Khrushchev's support of India in the border conflict, including supplying arms, and the repeated assurances of Khrushchev's heirs that they will continue the former Soviet prenier's policy toward India. -
"But it was a rude shock to the host t delegation," reports the Statesman, ". . . when the Russians began to drag their feet. They not only refused to endorse the Colombo proposals but also declined. to accept that the India-China border was'‘an 'area of tension,!"
According to the same source, "bitter and prolonged dispute between the Indian and Russian delegations followed" from the morning of November 16 "until well past midnight. At one time it appeared that: the: meeting of the commission might break up in confusion and disunity." | ©
However, at two ofclock in the morning other delegates intervened, advising a further session. Late in the afternoon a compromise was patched up which was finally accepted by both sides. While the commission designates the India-China border as an "area of tension," the statement "falls short of clear support for India which was available during Mr.