France's Algerian Position Upheld; Speaker Discusses India's Growth

India at the present time prefers to follow a policy of non-alignment, according to Bangalore Kuppuswamy, head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Mysore, India, who spoke at the International Seminar Forum last Thursday.

He explained that Indians oppose military alliances on the ground that they will increase rather than eliminate the threat of war.

Speaking on "The New India", Kuppuswamy described that country's rapid development since 1950, when she became a sovereign republic. He reported that the nation is now in the second of its five-year plans. America's technical assistance has won many friends among the Indian people, Kuppuswamy added.

India's leaders have overcome great obstacles in a short space of time in integrating 552 small states into one government, he continued.

As a result of the call for compulsory education in India's new constitution, the number of children attending school has risen by 20 percent, according to Kuppuswamy. The speaker, who has been chairman of a committee to promote Indian education, reported that the most difficult problem is getting parents to send their children to school.

Meanwhile, the French position on Algeria was defended by Guy d'Arvisenet, head of the Research and Documentation Department of the European Coal and Steel Community. Speaking on "What's Ahead for France?", he said that France's loss of Algeria would mean great disadvantages for the Moslems there, who have achieved civil liberties during the French regime. In answer to a question from the floor, d'Arvisenet denied that the French want to make the Algerians into Frenchmen.

The International Seminar Forum taking place at 8 p.m. tonight in Emerson D will discuss "Italy a Fortnight Ago" and "Progress in Pakistan." The participants will include editors, publishers, and a sculptress from the two nations.