U THANT AT AIRPORT; U THANT WITH MRS. GANDHI.




Initials JP/V/AS/EEH



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Background: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, U THANT, ARRIVED IN NEW DELHI YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) TO ADDRESS THE SECOND U.N. CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD). SOON AFTER HIS ARRIVAL, U THANT HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, MRS. GANDHI.

U THANT WAS TO HAVE ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE TWO MONTH CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 1 BUT POSTPONED HIS TRIP TO NEW DELHI BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS OVER NORTH KOREA'S SEIZURE OF THE AMERICAN SPY SHIP, PUEBLO. ASKED ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT WHETHER HE MIGHT MEET NORTH VIETNAMESE REPRESENTATIVES DURING HIS STAY IN NEW DELHI THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID: "I DO NOT WISH TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT AT THE MOMENT."
DURING HIS TALKS WITH MRS. GANDHI, U THANT IS SAID TO HAVE GIVEN HIS VIEWS OF THE PUEBLO SITUATION.THEY DEVOTED MUCH OF THEIR DISCUSSION TO VIETNAM AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF FINDING A SOLUTION THERE. MRS. GANDHI AND U THANT WILL HAVE MORE TALKS WHILE HE IS IN NEW DELHI.