War: More in Sorrow

Like a man wronged by a trusted friend, India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru last week released the texts of a sad little three-note exchange with Chinese Communist Leader Mao Tse-tung on the subject of Tibet.

Nehru had earnestly championed China’s Red regime, urged a seat for it in the U.N. and offered himself as mediator between East and West. It pained and jolted the pandit that Communist Mao had repaid him in typical Communist coin. In his first reaction to the invasion on Oct. 26, Nehru had expressed “surprise and regret” and recalled Chinese assurances that the Tibetan problem would be settled peaceably.

Mao’s reply, in brusque and insulting language, declared Tibet an integral part of China and alleged India’s interest was foreign-inspired. Warned Mao: “No foreign interference will be tolerated.” The Indian Prime Minister expressed “amazement” at China’s allegations. “At no time,” Nehru said in reply, “has any foreign influence been brought to bear upon India in regard to Tibet.” The Red attack against a “peaceful people,” said Nehru in his best progressive school manner, had “greatly added to the tensions of the world and to the drift towards general war.”