Whose Security?

India's Prime Minister Nehru, who thinks the U.N. should not be beastly to Peking, recognizes a nation's right to safeguard its security--when that nation is India. Last week, India's neighbor, Pakistan, protested against large-scale Indian troop concentrations on the Indian-Pakistan border. Pakistan offered to meet Nehru for peace talks, provided India pulls back the troops. This week, India's peace-loving Pandit declined the Pakistan offer. Reason: India's troops are threatening no one, simply help maintain the peace.

The Indian troops are on the border, said Nehru, because "there may develop a threat to Indian security." He added flatly that "in all matters affecting Pakistan relations, India's stand has been right and Pakistan's has been wrong." However, Indian "security arrangements" may prevent armed conflict. "India is fully prepared to meet any challenge . . . If we are ready, the attack may not develop."

Nehru is considerably less tolerant of other people's security arrangements. While Nehru was telling off Pakistan, Nehru's government sent a note to Washington formally protesting against certain provisions in the Japanese peace treaty draft (TIME, July 23). India feels 1) the treaty should not provide for U.S. troops to be stationed in Japan; 2) Formosa should be handed over to Red China; 3) the Ryukyu and Bonin islands should be returned to Japan, instead of being turned into U.S. bases.

The proposition that "if we are ready, the attack may not develop," is evidently true when it comes from India, false when it comes from the U.S.

One of Nehru's faithful diplomatic servants--and one of Red China's most useful diplomatic tools--has been K. M. Panikkar, Indian Ambassador to Peking. He has frequently praised the efficiency of the Red regime, pooh-poohed even the Reds' own accounts of mass executions. With the official explanation that his wife is ailing, the Indian Foreign Office is recalling Panikkar, now reported greatly disillusioned with Communist China.

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