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FREEDOMWAYS THIRD QUARTER 1973 events of the 1950's brought tensions and misunderstandings culminating in the entry of Chinese troops and their occupation of thousands of square miles of Indian territory in 1962. Furthermore China has systematically supported Pakistan against India. This was especially evident during the 14-day war in December, 1971. Yet t quote India: "We have hope that some day China will appreciate that cooperative and friendly relations between the 560 million people of India and the 700 million people of China are in our mutual interest." India signed a 25-year "treaty of friendship, cooperation and peace" with Bangladesh in March 1972. It is similar in its purpose to the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation concluded with the Soviet Union in August 1971. These treaties contain no secret clauses nor are they aimed at any country. Rumors that these treaties dilute India's historical policy of non-alignment are ill-founded. Non-alignment implies neither non-involvement are ill-founded. Non-alignment implies neither non-involvement nor neutrality but is an assertion of India's freedom of judgement and action. A quote from Indira Gandhi will serve to reinforce India's position: "We welcome support, we welcome sympathy, but I have always stood on my own two feet and I want India to stand on its feet. We don't want to be dependent on any country in the world." The Soviet Union shares the Indian view on the maintaining of peace and the elimination of racialism and colonialism. On these issues it has supported the Afro-Asian stand in the United Nations and elsewhere. When matters concerning India's national security and integrity such as Goa, Kashmir and more recently Bangladesh became subjects of international controversy, the Soviet Union's assessment coincided largely with that made by India. Even economic relations with the Soviet Union are easier for India since they repay them through the export of commodities. This mode of payment makes the Soviet Union credit self-liquidating. This is unlike aid from the United States which must be paid with previous for internal development of the Indian economy. In fact, India was scheduled to pay some 200 million dollars in foreign exchange for debts but the thirteen nation aid-to-India consortium decided to postpone India's debt payments in view of the recent drought, and Washington went along with the decision. To India's grave concern, U.S. policy as it has developed has seri-ously impinged upon India's vital interest. The admission of Pakistan into the U.S. controlled system of alliances and the massive supply of arms to Pakistan, in the midst of Indian protest, are cases in 238