INDIA: Dim Beacon

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Greeted at New Delhi's airport by kneeling Buddhist monks in yellow robes, Cambodia's ex-King Norodom Sihanouk arrived in India for a week's sightseeing and political parleying. Said the royal visitor to India's newsmen: "Your great republic is for Asia a beacon that can light our way to liberty . . . My abdication [TIME, March 14] will allow me to interpret and serve more faithfully the desires of my people . . . We would like to follow the neutrality policy of India and Burma, but lack of financial resources has compelled us to seek American economic and military aid."

These were large words for an ex-king; most Indians assumed that vigorous young (32) Norodom had not really abdicated, or at least that he would be back on the throne before long. Between a polo game and a dinner, Norodom got down to brass tacks with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who did most of the talking. Nehru urged his guest not to upset the Geneva agreement, and not to be drawn into the military orbit of the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. Norodom listened attentively. But when Nehru talked down grossly material concerns such as military aid, Norodom asked a pointed question: "Suppose the Communists attacked Cambodia —would India come to Cambodia's aid?"

The substance of Nehru's answer to this crucial question was no. After that, Norodom's attention visibly wandered. A member of his entourage said later: "It's what Americans call the $64 question. Perhaps India's interest in Cambodia is only cultural after all. Anyway, the beacon did not light the way."