Evening star., 1961-03-30

NEW DELHI, India, Mar. 80
(AP).-Dean Rusk stopped off
for talks with Prime Minister
Nehru today on his way back
to Washington and the Indian
leader said they agreed very
largely" on approaches to the
problems Of Laos and the
Congo.
The United States Secretary
of State and Mr.. Nehru con-
ferred for an hour and a half
and then had lunch together
before Mr.. Rusk continued his
journey home from the South
east Asia Treaty Organization
meeting in Bangkok.
Nehru Hopes for Best
Asked by newsmen whether
he expected peace in Laos, Mr..
Nehru replied: II can't say.
We hope for the best"
The Prime Minister said he
had received no fresh indica-
tions Of the Soviet attitude to-
ward the peace proposals put
forward by the British on be-
half of the eight-nation SEATO
alliance. But he added India
had received "a very valuable
hint some time ago." He did
not elaborate.
Mr.. RuSk told news con-
ference the length of time the
West can wait for the Soviet
answer depends upon what
happens on the ground in Laos,
and the next move is up to
Moscow.
AS Mr.. RuSk spoke, the Lao
tian government charged So
Wet transport planes still were
flying into Laos and that heavy
fighting broke out two days
ago in Eastern Laos between
the Communist-backed rebels
and the royal army.
Mr.. Rusk, like Mr.. Nehru.
expressed hope for peace but
adopted an attitude of watch
full waiting. He said no time
limit had been set for the
Soviet reply. The Secretary
of State said a cease fire in
Laos. keystone of the British
proposal. is imperative, after
which Laotian leaders them
selves could work out a neutral
regime analogous to Austria.
"An Austrian Laos would be
no threat to anyone and would
not get involved in larger ri
valries." he said.
In the early days of the
crisis, the United States had
baked at a Soviet-supported
plan to convene a 14-nation
conference on Laos because it
would include Red China. But
Mr.. Rusk told reporters the
United States is willing to sit
down with the Chinese Com
munists to discuss the situation
in Laos.
Mr.. Rusk said they did not
discuss the communique issued
by the SEATO ministers in
Bangkok. This declaration
warned Moscow that members
Of the alliance were prepared
to take appropriate action"
unless the Communists quit
military intervention in Laos.
But it did not spell out what
action would be taken and held
out q hand for negotiations to
end the strife in the jungle
Asian kingdom. p.
Meeting Successful"
Before leaving Bangkok, Mr..
Rusk called the three-day
SEATO conference a very
successful meeting" and said
the alliance has restored the
unity which underlies the very
concept Of the organization. "
The Secretary's statement
appeared designed to offset the
United States difference at the
conference with France, which
insisted on taking a softer line
that the United States favored.
Referring to the resolution
finally agreed on by the
SEATO ministers, Mr.. Rusk
said:
"On the one side we are de-
termined to keep the peace out
here Gin Southeast Asia) but
on the other we are determined
to protect the treaty area.
Mr.. Rusk's departure from
Bangkok was delayed 80 min
utes by fuel pump trouble in
one of the four engines on his
plane.
AS the foreign ministers left
the Thailand capital after