§ Q6. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Prime Minister what replies he has received from the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India in answer to his letters about Indo-Pakistan relations in the light of the Chinese invasion of India.
§ The Prime MinisterI have been in close touch with President Ayub and Mr. Nehru about the Chinese threat to the sub-Continent as a whole. I have received communications from both explaining the Pakistani and Indian points of view. The House will not expect me to say more about confidential correspondence with other Commonwealth leaders.
§ Mr. ThomsonI appreciate the delicacy of this matter between two Commonwealth countries. Would the Prime Minister consider taking a Commonwealth initiative to bring India and Pakistan together to meet this common military threat along their northern frontier? In particular, would the right 564 hon. Gentleman consider taking up the suggestion, made by the President of Pakistan as far back as 1958, that there should be common military talks between India and Pakistan on the basis of a new effort to settle the Kashmir dispute between them?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, but I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that I should be governed by the first sentence in his supplementary question.