The Center for International Affairs yesterday declined an invitation to debate the CFIA's right to exist with members of SDS and the University Action Group. The proposal for a debate next Monday came from the Harvard Advocate.

However, Joseph S. Nye, program director for the CFIA, offered to hold a debate which would be held in a House common room in January. Nye said that he was unable to attend the Advocate debate because of a meeting of the Harvard M.I.T. Joint Arms Control seminar.

SDS initially rejected his alternative proposal, which specified January 6 or 7 as possible dates and is endorsed by the Advocate and WHRB. Ira Helfand '71 of SDS accused the CFIA of being "afraid to debate before a large crowd" and said that many students would not be in Cambridge on the dates suggested.

Nye said that the common room would facilitate rational discussion and be more convenient for students, but added that he "did not want to exclude anyone." In the event of an overflow crowd, he said, the meeting could be moved "to a House dining room, for example." He said he would be available before January 12 or after the 19th.