MR. HARRIMAN WITH MR KRISHNAMACHARI; MR SHASTRI WITH THE MAHARAJ OF SIKKIM; AND MR HARRIMAN WITH MR SHASTRI.




Initials AA/V/AW/ES



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Background: MR AVERELL HARRIMAN, UNITED STATES ROVING AMBASSADOR, ARRIVED IN INDIA ON WEDNESDAY FOR TALKS WITH INDIAN LEADERS. YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) HE FIRST MET THE FINANCE MINISTER, MR T.T.KRISHNAMACHARI FOR TALKS. MR HARRIMAN TOLD REPORTERS THAT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC AGENDA FOR THEIR DISCUSSIONS.

WHILE MR HARRIMAN WAS WITH INDIA'S FINANCE MINISTER, MR SHASTRI, THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, WAS TALKING WITH THE MAHARAJ OF SIKKIM WHO IS CURRENTLY VISITING DELHI. OFFICIAL SOURCES SAY THE MAHARAJ'S VISIT IS FOR DISCUSSIONS ON SIKKIM'S THIRD ECONOMIC PLAN. SIKKIM IS A TINY HIMALAYAN STATE BETWEEN INDIA AND TIBET.

AFTER THIS MEETING, MR HARRIMAN MET PRIME MINISTER SHASTRI FOR WIDE-RANGING TALKS WHICH IT IS BELIEVED INCLUDED THE VIETNAM SITUATION.

AFTER THREE DAYS IN INDIA, MR AVERELL HARRIMAN IS FLYING ON TO MANILA FOR A CONFERENCE OF U.S. AMBASSADORS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.