The Unhelpful Indians

The scene: India's Upper House of Parliament. The issue: U.S. airlift of French reinforcements across Asia to Indo-China. The question from the floor: Would the U.S. Globemasters "transgress" Indian territory? Prime Minister Nehru's reply: "It has been the policy of the government for the past six years not to allow foreign troops to pass through or fly over India." There was indeed such an Indian policy, but Nehru chose to restate it in a desperate hour when his remarks would give sharp offense to the U.S. (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS). Parliament got the point; M.P.s cheered him wildly, and newspapers headlined NEHRU'S AIR BAN round the world.

Two days later Nehru defined the war in Indo-China to his own satisfaction: "The conflict is in its origin and essential character a movement of resistance to colonialism." Nehru rounded off his oration by saying the U.S. threatened the peace of Southeast Asia. He had nothing to say about Red China.

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