Q.
Do you think that the sitting and expansion of military, bases in west Asia will now become more difficult than before?
A.
I hope it does become more difficult, but there are some countries still depending upon the means of war namely arms supply. I think this is also one of the lessons for all the nations. The basic bankruptcy of military alliances has been exposed, something Nehru had the vision to foresee many years ago. The stockpiles of arms beyond functional requirements of a nation's security may be likened to active but temporarily dormant volcanoes. One never can tell when they might erupt and destroy the socio-political fabric of the nation in which they are sited.
Q.
In many speeches you have emphasized that military bases all over the world, specially the naval bases in the Indian Ocean, should be contained. Please comment.
A.
Not only contained but abolished. Diego Garcia was one, and in our discussions with our neighbouring countries as well as in the U. N., I said that we should evolve some sort of common outlook about the Indian Ocean being a peace zone. Opposition to military bases is one of the major planks of our foreign policy.
Q.
Many of the African, Latin American and Pacific nations are members of the non-aligned movement. Do you recall any new developments in that area during your tenure? Are there any personal impressions about meetings in Kingston and Havana?
A.
I do not think there was anything special. But certainly the process of consolidation of
non-aligned movement was getting strengthened. I particularly remember my visit to Havana and talks with Dr. Fidel Castro.
Q.
You were in Lima to attend the meeting of the co-ordination bureau of Foreign Ministers of non-aligned countries in May, 1975. I believe there was a coup in that country at that time.
A.
It was one of the dramatic situations that we had to go through. I remember the day of the coup. The previous day I had called on the President. It was a courtesy visit. He looked a very tragic figure because his one leg was amputed. But we did not see any sign of disquiet or discomfort or any sign of coup on the previous day. We were in the palace with the President for more than one hour. The next day we were in the conference hall. I got a chit from a French correspondent asking me whether we had heard of the coup that was taking place in the presidential palace. When I showed this note to the Foreign Secretary, who was sitting by my side, I saw the Foreign Minister of Peru, who was chairing the conference, quietly getting up and asking somebody else to look after the conference. He disappeared. I thought that was a proof of what was happening outside.