Peking, Dec 17. Envoys of the Soviet Union and six other communist countries walked out of a state banquet in Peking tonight when Mr Chou En-Lai, the Chinese Prime Minister, attacked Moscow’s support of Indian “aggression” against Pakistan. Obviously angry, Mr. Vasseli Tolstikov, the Soviet Ambassador, left the reception, given in honour of Mr. Khalid Hassan Abbas, the Sudanese Vice-President, when Mr Chou said that the “social imperialists” had repeatedly used the United Nations in order to obstruct a cease-fire and to support the attacks of the Indian aggressors.

In an emotion-charged atmosphere Mr. Chou’s voice echoed forcefully round the banqueting hall in the Great Hall of the People during his attack on the Soviet Union, which he never mentioned by name. He used instead the Chinese formula of referring to Moscow as “social imperialism”. Mr. Tolstikov was followed out by representatives of Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany and Mongolia. It was the first time a Soviet diplomat had left a Peking reception since October, 1969, in the aftermath of the Sino-Soviet border clashes. Mr. Brajesh Mishra, the Indian Charge d’ Affairs, and his wife walked out separately.

Mr Chou also delivered a broadside against Soviet Policy in the Middle East. He added: “Whether social imperialism talks about ‘maintaining peace’ or ‘supporting national liberation’ they are all lies.”