Q.
Do you recall any personal experience in your meetings with Soviet leaders and the Soviet people in the long span of 15 years covering nearly a decade-and-a-half?
A.
I found that there was a natural relaxation in the style of our talks. There is always a certain degree of formality in such discussions. But the general atmosphere I have found is an atmosphere of relaxation. I have come to notice one special feature about the Soviet leadership, that they attach great importance to the person-to-person relationship with the leadership.
Q.
But is it not also fraught with danger, because the leadership changes in various countries?
A.
It is much better that the changed leaders should meet again and again. This underlines the importance of personal relations.
Q.
Do you remember any conversations on questions relating to ethnic, cultural or sociological aspects with the Soviet leaders —with Khrushchev for instance, whom you had met?
A.
As Defense Minister, I met Mr. Khrushchev. Naturally I was then interested to know his views about the security aspects of .our region. He was very sympathetic to the problems of India.
He felt that China might not repeat what she did in 1962 in the near future, but he emphasised the necessity of strengthening our preparedness for national security. He also gave his assessment about the Chinese failure of economic planning. It was then, for the first time, that I came to realise that there are real differences between China and the Soviet Union, not only in their national relationship or ideological opinion but in the perception of the world situation.
Q.
In your meetings with the present Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, did you find this particular Soviet view of the world vis-a -vis China?
A.
Yes, but the presentation is rather different. I would not like to go public about it. But I can say that while Khrushchev was somewhat forthright in his expressions about the references to China, Brezhnev was more sophisticated in his presentation.
