Tibetan exiles pass up Soviet offer of arms aid

The Soviet Union has expressed support for Tibetan self-determination and offered military assistance to achieve it, an aide to the Dalai Lama said Tuesday, adding that Tibetan exiles rejected the offer and are continuing a dialogue with Peking for a peaceful settlement in their Chinese-ruled homeland.

The aide said Moscow's new interest in Tibet and the offer of arms aid underlined the strategic importance of Tibet for both the Soviet Union and China , ''particularly after the spread of Russian influence to Afghanistan.''