STUDENT WITH BANNERS; POLICE GUARD ENTRANCE OF U.S. INFORMATION OFFICE; SCUFFLE BETWEEN RIVAL STUDENT FACTIONS; STUDENTS THROW STONES; EFFIGY OF MR. KOSYGIN BURNS.




Initials



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Background: INDIAN STUDENTS MARKED VIETNAM DAY YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) WITH A MASS DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICE BUILDING IN CALCUTTA. DURING THEIR PROTEST THEY BURNT EFFIGIES OF BOTH PRESIDENT JOHNSON OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE SOVIET PRIME MINISTER, ALEXEI KOSYGIN.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE STAGED BY STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA. MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED OF THEM SQUATTED OUTSIDE THE U.S.I.S. BUILDING, BRANDISHING POSTERS AGAINST 'AMERICAN BRUTALITIES IN VIETNAM' AND CHANTING PRO NORTH VIETNAMESE SONGS. THE CHINA WING OF THE STUDENTS SPOKE AGAINST THE POLICIES OF BOTH AMERICA AND RUSSIA IN VIETNAM, AND CONDEMNED THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOR ITS OWN OFFICIAL ATTITUDE TO THE VIETNAMESE CONFLICT.

A RUSSIAN ORIENTATED STUDENT BRANCH WAS MEANWHILE PERFORMING A SIMILAR DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THE SOVIET CONSULATE. THERE THEY BURNT AN EFFIGY OF PREMIER ALEXEI KOSYGIN, AND SHOUTED IN PROTEST AGAINST THE 'RUSSIAN FAILURE TO HELP NORTH VIETNAM'.

DURING THE DAY A NUMBER OF CLASHES OCCURRED BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FACTIONS OF THE STUDENT BODIES, INVOLVING MUCH THROWING OF STONES AND WIELDING OF BATONS. SIX STUDENTS WERE INJURED.

AND AT THE SOVIET CONSULATE, A TWO-MAN DEPUTATION ATTEMPTED TO HAND IN A MEMORANDUM BUT IT WAS REJECTED. AN OFFICIAL TOLD THE PRESS THAT IT CONTAINED 'ALLEGATIONS IN SLANDEROUS LANGUAGE.'